PETITION AGAINST STERLING PETROCHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS LIMITED
The families in Okopedi Ete community, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, have written to the House of Representatives, Committee on Public Petitions, seeking legislative intervention in a lingering land dispute involving Sterling Petrochemicals and Fertilizer Limited.
In the letter dated February 13, 2026, by Uyo based lawyer, Francis Ekwere, the families of Uko Okon Uko and Udo Amaka Inam family accused the company of failing to comply with the terms of settlement and consent judgements reached in separate court cases arising from disputed lands in the community.
The letter, addressed to the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions at the National Assembly, appealed for urgent intervention “to save the families of Uko Okon Uko and Udo Amaka Inam from further harassment, intimidation and Molestation”.
According to the letter, the two families are landowners and oil palm plantation owners in. Okopedi Ete where the company operates.
It further alleged that parts of the affected lands belonged to the two families and were used for oil palm plantation and farming activities.
The families claimed that, the company entered the said lands, oil plantations, graded, excavated and buried large oil pipeline consequently completely altering the nature of the lands, uprooting and destroying the oil palm trees and other economic trees/crops on the land which the families depended on for their sustenance and as their source of their livelihood. ”
The families said attempt to secure compensation and amicable resolution allegedly failed, forcing them to approached court for redress.
For Uko Okon family, the letter referenced Suit No. HAB/2/2025 between Me. Uko Uko and Sterling Petrochemicals and Fertilizer Limited.
According to the letter, both parties later agreed to settle the matter out of court and endorsed terms of settlement which were subsequently adopted by the court as a consent judgement.
According to the letter, the company agreed to offer 5 opportunities of permanent employment and pay 30 million as compensation for 8,305 square meters of the land.
The families, however, alleged that despite the agreement, the company has yet to comply with the terms contained in the settlement.
The second family, Udo Amaka Inam family, referenced two separate suits, HAB/9/2024 and HAB/1/2025, also involving settlement agreements allegedly entered and adopted as consent judgement by the court.
According to the letter, the company in the first suits agreed to pay 10 million for 12347.065 square meters of land as compensation and provide permanent employment for the three family members, while the second suit involved an agreement for payment of 46.05 million and permanent employment opportunities for five person for 151,331.29 SQM of land as compensation. The families alleged that the terms had not been implemented.
