Godsent Ogbebor
Rivers Emergency Rule – Legal Experts Disagrees on Supreme Court’s Role
Legal experts are divided over the role of the Supreme Court in the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
While former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, criticized the apex court’s handling of political crises, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), argued that the real issue lies with political actors in Rivers, not the judiciary.
In a nationwide address on Tuesday, March 18, Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
He also appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state’s administrator, citing the need to restore law and order following the vandalism of two oil pipelines.
Read Also: Reps Engage in Heated Exchange Over Emergency Rule in Rivers
Reacting via his X handle, Odinkalu accused the Supreme Court of losing its independence, arguing that it no longer plays the crucial role it once did in safeguarding democracy.
He recalled that under former Chief Justice Mohammed Uwais, the court had the strength to protect Nigeria from political instability but claimed that the current leadership under Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun had compromised its integrity.
Osigwe, however, disagreed, insisting that the crisis in Rivers was caused by political rivalries, not judicial failures. He argued that if the key players had prioritized the state’s well-being over personal interests, the situation would not have escalated.
“The problem in Rivers State is caused by the egos of the people involved—the principal actors refusing to sit down and find a solution that works for the state,” Osigwe stated.
He maintained that while court rulings provide legal direction, resolving political conflicts ultimately depends on the willingness of leaders to put governance above personal battles.
