Rivers emergency rule: FG taps ex-AGF, 11 SANs as Supreme Court battle looms

Tinubu

The Federal Government has assembled 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, led by a former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and six other lawyers to defend the emergency rule declaration in Rivers State in the suit filed by the 11 Peoples Democratic Party governors challenging the suspension of democratic rule in the oil-rich state.

The other Senior Advocates include Prof Kanyinsola Ajayi, Jelili Owonikoko, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, Tijani Gazali, Babatunde Obama , Olawale Fapohunda, Olumide Olujinmi, Akinyemi Olujinmi and Ademola Abimbola.

Other lawyers in the team are: Akinsola Olujinmi, Oluwole Ilori, Abdulwahab Abayomi, Mojeed Balogun, Jideuche Ezi and Ramat Tijani.

President Bola Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

Following the suspension, the President appointed Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs for the duration of the suspension period.

The National Assembly subsequently ratified the President’s declaration through a voice vote.

Displeased, 11 PDP governors sued the AGF and the National Assembly as 1st and 2nd defendants, respectively, before the Supreme Court.

The plaintiffs are Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa States.

The governors through their various state Attorneys General in a suit marked SC/CV/329/2025, asked the Supreme Court to determine what authority the President has to suspend a democratically elected state institution and replace it with an unelected one.

They asked the apex court to determine six constitutional questions, including whether the President of Nigeria can lawfully suspend or interfere with the offices of a governor and deputy governor and replace them with an unelected appointee under the guise of a state of emergency proclamation.