The Director-General of the Institute of Law Research and Development of the United Nations (ILAWDUN), Cyprian Edward-Ekpo, has called on President Bola Tinubu to revoke the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
In a letter dated March 28, Edward-Ekpo, a professor of international environmental law, warned that the decision threatens Nigeria’s democratic institutions and its international standing. He expressed concerns about the implications of the emergency rule in the oil-rich south-south region, stating it could damage Tinubu’s legacy as a pro-democracy figure.
Edward-Ekpo initially intended to escalate the issue to the Supreme Court but cited growing public scepticism over the judiciary’s independence as a reason for choosing a direct appeal to the president instead.
“There is a widely held global perception that Nigeria’s judicial system is facing a crisis of confidence,” he wrote, adding that many now question the courts’ integrity, moral authority, and intellectual credibility.
