Politics
Accountability Panel Criticises Supreme Court Over Rivers State Crisis
The Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP) has criticised Nigeria’s Supreme Court for failing to clarify the legitimacy of defected lawmakers in its recent ruling on the Rivers State political crisis.
In a statement on Friday, the panel, which includes three retired justices of the Court of Appeal, expressed concerns that the apex court’s 28 February judgement did not explicitly address the status of 27 lawmakers who switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in defiance of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Retired Justice Mojeed Owoade, chair of the 11-member panel, noted that while the court acknowledged the defection, it did not provide a definitive ruling on whether the lawmakers’ seats had been legally vacated.
“The judgement of the Supreme Court in the consolidated appeals leaves a gap as to whether the issue of the alleged defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is still alive or has been settled,” Mr Owoade said.
“This is because the court made comments on the issue of defection without actually addressing it.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling on 28 February favoured the defected lawmakers in two of the three cases related to the Rivers crisis.
These judgements led to the suspension of federal allocations to the state until Governor Fubara resubmits the budget to the assembly, as well as the invalidation of local government elections conducted in 2024.
However, the court reserved judgment on the third issue—the lawmakers’ defection—potentially the most politically significant aspect for Mr Fubara.
Mr Owoade suggested that the court should have either remained silent on the matter or ruled explicitly, rather than offering ambiguous remarks that failed to settle the dispute.
“Complex and lengthy judgements of courts defy easy comprehension and therefore undermine public trust,” he warned, adding that judicial ambiguity risks eroding confidence in the legal system.
The panel called on politicians to refrain from interfering in judicial processes and urged the judiciary to remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law.
The controversy has further deepened the political standoff in Rivers State. Earlier this week, the state assembly shut its gates, preventing Governor Fubara from entering the premises.
Lawmakers insisted they had not yet invited him to resubmit the budget, a condition required for the release of federal funds.
On Friday, the lawmakers announced an indefinite recess, a move that could stall the budget resubmission and prolong the crisis.
The Independent Judicial Accountability Panel includes Justices Chinwe Iyizoba and Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, as well as legal and civil society figures such as Okechukwu Ibeanu, Jummai Audi, Mac Imoni Amarere, and Sechap A. Tsokwa.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to immediately remove the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, citing a breach of constitutional procedure and defiance of President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
In a statement provided to Elanza News on Thursday, Falana referenced the official Federal Government Gazette, which outlined the terms governing the Sole Administrator’s operations.
According to the document, “the Sole Administrator shall operate on the basis of such Regulations that may, from time to time, be issued by me,” President Bola Tinubu stated.
However, Falana noted that “it is common knowledge that President Bola Tinubu has not issued any Regulation for the operation of the Sole Administrator.”
Despite this, the appointed Sole Administrator has proceeded to make appointments and remove officials who were earlier appointed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Describing the development as unlawful, Falana said: “By treating the orders of President Bola Tinubu with contempt, the Sole Administrator has compounded the illegality of his appointment.
The Sole Administrator ought to be removed without any further delay.”
The legal luminary’s position comes amid a broader political crisis in Rivers State, where the legitimacy of key appointments and the balance of powers between the state and federal government continue to generate intense debate.
The Northern Nigeria Youths Union (NNYU), has promised to garner over two million votes for President Bola Tinubu during the 2027 General Elections.
The Chairman of the union, Abubakar Aliyu, discussed this on Wednesday shortly after the conclusion of a major meeting held in Jos, Plateau.
“We are speaking after the conclusion of a large gathering of young men and women who have committed themselves to contributing to the journey of Tinubu.
“This is after seeing how he is implementing a myriad of developmental projects across the country, especially in the Northern parts of Nigeria,” Aliyu said in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
The chairman, who is also the Galadiman Takai, cited Tinubu’s recent inauguration of the construction of the Abuja to Kaduna to Kano Highway.
Aliyu said, “This is a road that has three lanes on each side, which will attract more developments to the North and the entire country.”
He also referenced the phenomenal decline in the prices of food stuffs during just-concluded Ramadan’ fast, averring, “everyone glaringly witnessed this feat.
“The prices of various goods had also nosedived and even the price of fuel had reduced significantly.
“We in our organisation, the Northern Nigeria Youth Union, assure the president that when the election comes, we will give him more than two million votes.”
Aliyu stated that the union had registered members, Muslims and Christians, all volunteers in each of the 19 Northern states.
He added, “It is is not that we were given money from somewhere, we are just volunteers with patriotism.
“Considering our large membership, when the elections are held, we will also attract the attention of many people to cast their votes for Tinubu.
” Therefore, with a large membership of over 65,000 people, and the efforts we will make to get people with voter’s cards, will ensure that we generate the votes for Tinubu.
“This is a guarantee that this will indeed be done.”
The chairman, however, called on Tinubu to ensure that all his political appointees were closely monitored.
“This call becomes necessary so that the people could be properly cared for as per the constitutional provisions,”Aliyu explained.(NAN)
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has announced a ban on night grazing and restricted the use of motorcycles across the state following incessant attacks.
In a state broadcast on Wednesday, Mutfwang described the attacks as “coordinated acts of terror” aimed at displacing residents and undermining their right to exist peacefully on their ancestral lands.
The governor also prohibited the transportation of cattle by vehicles after 7pm.
He said the directives take immediate effect, with the restriction on motorcycle use in place from 7pm to 6am across the state until further notice.
“The tragic echoes of Dogo Na Hawa, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and the Christmas Eve massacres in Bokkos remain vivid. The cycle continues, but it must not endure. Enough Is Enough,” the governor said.
“As your governor, I stand resolved — Plateau shall not be overrun by fear, nor shall we accept this culture of bloodshed as the new normal.
“My administration is intensifying efforts to protect our people and enforce the rule of law across all local governments.
“I hereby announce the following measures, effective Wednesday, April 16: Night grazing of cattle is strictly prohibited; transportation of cattle by vehicle is banned after 7pm.
“The use of motorcycles is restricted from 7pm to 6am across the state until further notice.”