Rivers’ emergency rule: S’Court’s judgment win for Nigerians –AGF

From Godwin Tsa Abuja

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has described the judgment of the Supreme Court affirming the power of the President to declare a state of emergency as a win for all Nigerians.

He said the judgment is a further consolidation to Nigeria’s fledgling democracy and has cleared whatever doubt anyone might have had.

The Minister was reacting to the Supreme Court’s judgment delivered on Monday in a suit filed by Adamawa State and 10 other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led states, challenging the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State in March.

According to a statement by his media aide, Kamarudeen Ogundele, the AGF Fagbemi said: “I welcome the judgement of the Supreme Court affirming the power granted the President by the constitution to declare a state of emergency in any state in Nigeria, whenever the situation arises.

“The landmark judgement has further strengthened our jurisprudence and added another vital ingredient to consolidate our democracy.

“I congratulate all parties in the matter as it is a win for our fledgling democracy and has helped to erase any doubt anyone might have had about the action of the President and the endorsement by the National Assembly.

“Nigeria is for all of us and I assure Nigerians of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to uphold the tenets of democracy and the rule of law at all times,” the minister added.