Nigeria’s Supreme Court has reserved judgment in a suit by some Peoples’ Democratic Party Governors, challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, by President Bola Tinubu.
The 7-man panel announced this on Tuesday after parties in the suit had adopted their processes.
Plaintiffs in the suit are the Attorneys General of 20 States, while the defendants are the Federal Government and the National Assembly.
At the beginning of the proceeding, the 5th Plaintiff, Delta State Government announced its withdrawal from the suit, which was not opposed by the counsel for the Federal Government, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who appeared for the plaintiffs, noted that their case was not a denial of the President’s power to proclaim a state of emergency but to challenge the extent to which the proclamation can be made to affect the offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and the State House of Assembly.
Fagbemi in his argument for the Federal Government, and in response to the courts question, if there was a threat in the process of the proclamation, stated there was none and that the plaintiffs have not been able to prove any.
He also noted that Rivers state was engulfed in crisis, involving the governor and the executives, prompting the presidents action.
He also submitted that the Governor, his deputy and the State House of Assembly were not removed but suspended, as part of extraordinary measures required to bring decorum in the state.
He further argued that the President had no choice but a duty to act swiftly by declaring a state of emergency.
He urged the apex court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
Counsel for the National Assembly, Charles Yohila alugned with the AGF’s submission and urged the court to dismiss the case.
The apex court reserved verdict till a date to be communicated to parties in the suit.
