The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has declared the Supreme Court’s affirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s power to declare a state of emergency as a “win for all Nigerians” and a “consolidation of Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.”
In a statement released Tuesday, December 16, the AGF was reacting to the judgment delivered Monday.
The ruling dismissed a suit filed by Adamawa State and ten other PDP-led states, which had challenged the emergency rule President Tinubu declared in Rivers State in March 2025.
He 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 ingredients to consolidate our democracy.
“I congratulate all parties in the case as it is a win for our fledging 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 Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to uphold the tenets of democracy and the Rule of Law at all times.”
Persecondnews had reported that in a six-to-one split decision, a seven-member apex court panel on Monday, December 15 dismissed a suit filed by 11 opposition PDP-controlled states challenging President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.
President Tinubu had on March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers state after he slammed Gov. Fubara, his deputy, and lawmakers in the state, with a six-month suspension.
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed to pilot the affairs of the state within the period as sole administrator.
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