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BREAKING: HURIWA Urges Supreme Court To Dispense Justice Quick On Rivers’ Emergency Rule
It is the view of the pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) that the apex court has been presented with an opportunity to redeem the waning public image of the Nigerian judiciary by the emergency rule declared in Rivers State.
Biztellers reports that the matter challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency and the suspension of a sitting Governor of Rivers State, Siminilayi Fubara was instituted by some Nigerian governors.
The HURIWA, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, noted that the Nigerian judiciary has never witnessed the kind of downturn, loss of public confidence and trust in the integrity to such a terrible extent that over 98 percent of Nigerians believed that President Tinubu has effectively pocketed the judiciary given that he was instrumental to the phenomenal rise of the current chief justice of Nigeria who was the justice that pronounced the then APC governorship candidate Hope Uzodimma who came 4th in the Imo State election as the winner thereby displacing the governor Emeka Ihedioha.
Ihedioha was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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According to Onwubiko, besides, the Supreme Court’s recent highly biased and openly partisan judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim lambasting Governor Fubara and stopping the Central Bank of Nigeria from remitting the rightful allocations from the Federation Account to the coffers of the Rivers State government – a politically motivated ruling that led to the destabilisation of democratic structures of Rivers State including the unconstitutional suspension of Governor Fubara by President Tinubu.
The Rights group added that the inability of the Supreme Court to sanction Justice Emmanuel Agim for openly fraternising with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike at the recently held convocation ceremony of the University of Calabar shows the complicity and compromise with the executive arm of government by the Nigerian judiciary whose hierarchy is domiciled in the Supreme Court.
The HURIWA, therefore, affirmed that the time has now come for the world to see whether or not it is factually accurate the conspiracy theory that President Tinubu has the Nigerian judiciary in his pockets just as the Rights group said the decision by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in this matter brought by 11 governors of the PDP with a specific request for interpretation of the Constitution to ascertain if an elected president with same constitutional ways of impeachment just like the elected governor of the states, has the powers to unseat or unilaterally suspend a sitting governor like it was done to Gov Fubara.
Onwubiko maintained that the verdict on this case would be a verdict on the integrity of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and would be the last stroll that would break the camel’s back in terms of trusting the judiciary.
The HURIWA noted that the governors, in the suit marked: SC/CV/329/2025, predicated the summons on eight grounds.
The plaintiffs in the suit are Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa States.
The plaintiffs urged the Supreme Court to determine if the President had the power to suspend a democratically elected structure of a state.
They also asked the apex court to determine if the way and manner the President pronounced the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State was not in contravention of the 1999 Constitution.
Amongst others, all 11 governors in the suit, filed through the states’ Attorney Generals, prayed the court to determine the following, “Whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 5(2), 176, 180, 188 and 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can lawfully suspend or in any manner whatsoever interfere with the offices of a Governor and the Deputy Governor of any of the component 36 States of the Federation of Nigeria and replace same with his own unelected nominee as a Sole Administrator, under the guise of, or pursuant to, a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in any of the State of the Federation, particularly in any of the Plaintiffs States?
The HURIWA expressed belief that there is no provision of the extant Grund Norm that authorises the sitting President to suspend a sitting governor, and therefore reminded the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kekere-Ekun that Nigerians will judge the Supreme Court and the judiciary by the kind of pronouncement the Supreme Court eventually makes in the aforesaid matter, especially with regards to the decision of the president to suspend a sitting governor.
“The judgment in this matter will determine whether Nigerians will support constitutional democracy or conclude that the judiciary has endorsed totalitarianism and dictatorship,” it added.
Gunmen have killed a former staff member of Ogun State Television, Mrs. Kitan Oyesiku, popularly known as “Aunty Kitan,” alongside her security guard in a violent early morning attack in Agodo community along the Abeokuta–Siun–Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, threw residents of the area into panic and mourning as news of the killings spread across the community.
The victims were reportedly attacked inside their residence by unknown armed men who stormed the compound and carried out the operation before fleeing the scene.
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The security guard on duty was also killed during the invasion.
The attack took place within the Abeokuta axis of Abeokuta, raising fresh concerns over insecurity in parts of the state.
The bodies of the deceased have since been deposited at the morgue of the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta.
As of press time, the motive behind the attack remains unclear, while security agencies are expected to launch a full-scale investigation into the incident.
An anonymous source who spoke on the development said the incident was discovered after concerned church members went to check on the deceased when she failed to appear at church service.
The source said: “They had come around to check on Mrs Oyesiku when they did not see her in the church. On getting to her residence, they found out that the security officer had been killed, and they later also saw that the assailants had also killed Mrs Oyesiku. That was how they raised the alarm in the community.”
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command confirmed the incident and said an official statement would be issued after preliminary investigations.
Mrs. Oyesiku, a former broadcaster with the state-owned television station, was well known in media circles before her retirement.
Her death has sparked grief among colleagues, friends, and residents across Ogun State, as calls mount for improved security in the area.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on his re-election, describing the outcome of the governorship election as a clear affirmation of the people’s trust in continuity, stability, and development-focused leadership.
Tinubu also called on opposition parties in the state to accept the results of the election and work with the re-elected governor to strengthen governance and accelerate development across Ekiti.
His message was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, following the official declaration of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission).
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The president said the victory represents a strong endorsement of Oyebanji’s performance during his first term in office, noting that the people of Ekiti have reaffirmed their confidence in his leadership.
He urged the governor to remain humble in victory and ensure inclusive governance that carries all stakeholders along in the next phase of administration.
“President Tinubu urges Governor Oyebanji to remain magnanimous in victory and to carry all Ekiti people along as he consolidates on his achievements in the next four years,” the statement read.
Tinubu further appealed to candidates who participated in the election to prioritize peace and unity, stressing the importance of collaboration in moving the state forward.
He noted that the election outcome should mark the beginning of broader cooperation among political actors in Ekiti rather than division.
According to him, Oyebanji’s first term witnessed notable progress in key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and rural development under the BAO agenda.
The president described the renewed mandate as a reflection of voters’ confidence in stability and continuity of governance.
“The renewed mandate is therefore a clear vote of confidence in continuity, stability, and people-centred governance,” Tinubu stated.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to partnering with the Ekiti State Government to deepen development and ensure the delivery of democratic dividends under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tinubu praised the conduct of voters during the election, describing the process as largely peaceful, and commended security agencies for maintaining order throughout the exercise.
Meanwhile, Biodun Oyebanji was officially declared winner of the poll after securing 319,224 votes across all 16 local government areas of the state.
The victory makes him the first governor in the history of Ekiti State to win consecutive re-election, marking a significant milestone in the state’s political history.
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down from office, accusing the Labour leader of failing on two critical issues — immigration and energy policy.
Trump made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed Starmer’s leadership had fallen short in addressing challenges facing the United Kingdom.
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“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”
The U.S. president did not provide any evidence to support his claim, nor did he reveal the basis for his prediction that Starmer would leave office.
Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, became Prime Minister after securing victory in the UK’s general election.
Since taking office, his government has faced criticism over a range of issues, including migration policies, energy security, and the cost-of-living challenges confronting many Britons.
Trump’s comments come as debates over immigration and energy continue to dominate political discussions in the UK.
However, there has been no official statement from Starmer, his office, or the British government suggesting that he plans to resign.
As of the time of filing this report, Starmer remains in office and continues to lead the government despite the claims made by the American president.
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