The Supreme Court judge who read the controversial judgment sparking the current political crisis in Rivers State, Justice Emmanuel Agim, was seen attending the University of Calabar’s (UNICAL) 50th anniversary convocation ceremony over the weekend.
The event, held on Saturday, also featured the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who was honored with an honorary doctorate in law.
This sighting has raised concerns among political stakeholders, who have drawn attention to Justice Agim’s role in the judgment that led to the ongoing tension in Rivers. A viral photograph circulating on social media showed Wike seated in the front row alongside Justice Agim and Ekaette Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The judgment in question, delivered on February 28 by the Supreme Court, upheld a Federal High Court ruling that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State. The Court also voided the local government election held on October 5, 2024. The ruling benefitted the faction loyal to Wike, led by Martin Amaewhule, and contributed to heightened political tensions in the state.
In response to the controversy stirred by the image, the Supreme Court issued a statement on Monday, clarifying the circumstances of Justice Agim’s attendance. According to the Court’s spokesman, Festus Akande, Justice Agim was at the convocation as an honoree, not accompanying Wike. The statement explained that Justice Agim was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law for his contributions to the legal profession.
The clarification emphasized that Justice Agim’s participation was independent and had no political affiliations, reinforcing the importance of judicial independence. The Court urged the public and media to verify information from credible sources to avoid the spread of misinformation.
This clarification comes after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy following the ruling, further intensifying the political crisis in the region.
