Supreme Court reserves judgment on states’ lawsuit challenging Tinubu’s Rivers State emergency declaration.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved its judgment in a high-profile case challenging President Bola Tinubu’s March 2025 declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
A seven-member panel of justices, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, adjourned the matter after hearing final arguments from both sides on Tuesday. The lawsuit was filed by the Attorneys General of ten states, with the Federal Government and the National Assembly named as defendants.
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During the proceedings, Delta State listed as the fifth plaintiff formally withdrew from the case. The move was not opposed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who represented the federal government.
Counsel for the remaining plaintiffs, Chief Olusola Jegede (SAN), clarified that the states were not challenging the President’s constitutional power to declare a state of emergency. Rather, they sought clarification on the extent of that power specifically, how such a declaration affects the roles and functions of the state governor, deputy governor, and the House of Assembly during the emergency period.
The Supreme Court’s eventual ruling is expected to set a critical precedent for the balance of power between the federal and state governments, particularly in times of national or regional crisis.
