Rivers emergency rule: Stop interpreting laws with political partisanship — AGF Fagbemi tells Nigerians

The Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has urged Nigerians to stop viewing judicial matters through partisan lenses.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos at the launch of Tribulations and Trophies: Bola Ajibola… in His Own Words!—the autobiography of the late former AGF and ex‑ICJ judge—Fagbemi stressed that legal disputes must be resolved on the basis of facts and the law, not political emotion.

“People should read carefully and familiarize themselves with what the law says,” he said. “It’s not a matter of sentiment or emotions but of basic facts on the ground. Although I serve in government, I have avoided taking sides. The courts are examining this matter, and we must allow them to decide.”

On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a six‑month emergency rule in Rivers State, citing a protracted political crisis. The declaration suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state assembly, and appointed retired Navy Chief Ibok‑Ete Ibas as sole administrator.