Rivers emergency rule: Lawyers disagree on Supreme Court’s role

Legal experts are divided over the Supreme Court’s role 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 legal matters, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), maintained that the blame lies with the political actors in Rivers, not the judiciary.

Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

The President also appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the administrator of the state, citing the need to restore law and order following the political crisis that led to the vandalism of two oil pipelines.

Reacting via his X handle, Odinkalu accused the Supreme Court of losing its independence and authority, arguing that it no longer plays the critical role it once did in safeguarding democracy.

He recalled that under the leadership of former Chief Justice Mohammed Uwais, the apex court had the strength to protect Nigeria from political instability.

However, he claimed that the current leadership under Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun had compromised the court’s integrity.

“Under Chief Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, the @SupremeCourtNg had the independence & authority to repeatedly save #Nigeria from peril. Under Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Court is so…” he tweeted.

Osigwe, however, pushed back against Odinkalu’s stance, insisting that the crisis in Rivers State was caused by political egos rather than judicial failures.

He stated, “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.

“Blaming the Supreme Court or any other party will not solve the problem. If the stakeholders had placed Rivers State above their personal interests and cared about the security of the people, we would not be in this situation.

“It became an ego fight—a contest of who is bigger and can do more. Ego is the root of the problem in Rivers State, not the Supreme Court. Sometimes, people receive judgments from the court but decide to hold onto them to find practical solutions.”

Osigwe added that while court judgments provide legal direction, resolving political crises ultimately depends on the willingness of leaders to put governance above personal battles.