in those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations, their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems.” In light of the above, the Ette community by virtue of being a Community under the State of Nigeria are clothed with the rights of a people to challenge the alleged violation under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as other International Treaties. Having established that the Ette Community on whose behalf this action is brought are recognized as a “people” under the African Charter, the next question to be considered is whether there has been a violation of Articles 20 and 22 as alleged. Self-determination may best be understood as the legal right of people to decide their own destiny in the international order. This principle allows a people to choose their own political status and determine their own form of economic, cultural and social development. Under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, self-determination is protected as a right of “all peoples.” It refers to the rights of people indigenous to an area to determine their destiny. 18