State of emergency: Supreme Court judgement a win for Nigerians – Fagbemi

Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice

Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, has described the Supreme Court’s judgement affirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s power to declare a state of emergency as a win for all Nigerians.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Adviser on Communication and Publicity to the AGF, Fagbemi said the ruling consolidates Nigeria’s democracy and clarifies any doubts about the exercise of the President’s constitutional powers.

Read also: Supreme Court affirms President’s state of emergency powers, suspension of elected officials

He made the remarks while reacting to the Supreme Court judgement delivered on Monday in a suit filed by Adamawa State and 10 other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led states, which challenged the emergency rule declared in Rivers State by President Tinubu in March.

Fagbemi stated, “I welcome the judgement of the Supreme Court affirming the power granted to the President by the Constitution to declare a state of emergency in any state in Nigeria whenever the situation arises.

“The judgement has strengthened our jurisprudence and added another step to consolidate our democracy. I congratulate all parties involved, as this is a win for our democracy and clarifies any doubts about the President’s actions and their approval by the National Assembly.

“Nigeria is for all of us, and I assure Nigerians of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law at all times.”

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