NIGERIA TV INFO — NATIONAL NEWS

Court Fixes March 9 for Judgment on Tinubu’s Emergency Powers in Rivers

Abuja — The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled March 9 for judgment in a suit challenging the constitutional authority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove elected state officials during the state of emergency declared in Rivers State last year.

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after lawyers representing the plaintiff and the defence formally adopted their written submissions and presented arguments for and against the case.

The suit was instituted by the Civil Society Observatory for Constitutional and Legal Compliance (CSOCLC), which is questioning the legality of actions taken by the president following the emergency declaration in Rivers State.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe, argued that although Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the president to declare a state of emergency, it does not grant him the authority to suspend or remove elected governors, deputy governors, or members of a state legislature, nor to appoint an interim administrator to run the affairs of a state.

He maintained that the Constitution clearly “covers the field” regarding emergency powers and sets out no provision allowing the president to dissolve or replace democratically elected state officials under such circumstances.

According to the CSOCLC, the president’s actions in Rivers amounted to an unconstitutional overreach that undermines democratic governance and federalism.

The defence counsel, however, urged the court to dismiss the suit, insisting that the measures taken were lawful and necessary to restore order during the crisis that engulfed the state at the time.

Justice Omotosho subsequently reserved judgment till March 9, when the court is expected to determine whether the president acted within the limits of constitutional powers.

The ruling is widely anticipated, as it could set a significant precedent on the scope of presidential authority during states of emergency in Nigeria.