Legal practitioner and Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, has criticised the Supreme Court’s ruling on the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State.
Okonkwo who is a member of the African Democratic Congress party, spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, disagreed with the court’s approach, arguing that while the President can declare a state of emergency, he does not have the authority to suspend elected officials.
NEWSMAXNG reports thaf On Monday, the apex court in a six-to-one split decision, declared that the President has the constitutional power to declare a state of emergency to prevent a breakdown of law and order or a descent into chaos.
The court also ruled that elected officials may be suspended during such periods, but only for a limited duration.
Challenging the ruling, Okonkwo said the court’s pronouncement carries far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democracy.
He stated; “They said they don’t have jurisdiction, so they just stated an opinion. It means that what they just stated is an opinion, but their opinion still matters in legal issues.
“If I were in their position, I wouldn’t have done that. As an apex court, they have the right to simply decline jurisdiction and not make any other comments. That is a right given to them, rather than throwing the nation into confusion.”
Okonkwo warned that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent:
“What this means is that the President now has the right to suspend 36 governors at the same time. He can declare a state of emergency nationwide and that he will use the military to rule Nigeria for a limited time,” he explained.
The court’s judgment followed a suit filed by states governed by the Peoples Democratic Party, which challenged President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The Supreme Court’s ruling supported the March decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
The nollywood actor further stated that he has lost confidence in the judicial system:
“As a lawyer, I am not confident in the judicial system because their judgments are not reflecting the rule of law.”
Nonetheless, he commended the sole dissenting justice in the case, aligning himself with that position:
“Thank God there was one dissenting voice among the Supreme Court Justices, and I have the right to align myself with him,” he said.
