A coalition of civil society organizations and legal professionals has called on United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, to urgently visit Nigeria and investigate allegations of political and economic manipulation within the judiciary.
In a petition dated March 26, 2025, signed by Egondu Esinwoke, Convener, and Courage Nsirimovu, Coordinator, alongside 24 other organizations, the petitioners accuse the Nigerian judiciary of being exploited as a political tool by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and President Bola Tinubu to strengthen political control in Rivers State.
The petition points to a controversial Supreme Court ruling that reinstated 27 defected lawmakers in Rivers State, arguing it contradicted an earlier ruling in the case of Abegunde Ifedola Sunday v. Labour Party. The petitioners believe the judgment undermines the state’s government stability. An Independent Judicial Accountability Panel, which included three retired justices, reviewed the ruling and deemed it politically influenced.
The groups also criticized Wike’s alleged influence over the judiciary, referencing a piece by human rights lawyer Chidi Odinkalu that accuses Wike of cultivating ties with judges to sway decisions in his favor. Additionally, they claim President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is unconstitutional and politically motivated, designed to further Wike’s control over the state.
The petitioners argue that the justification for the state of emergency, based on the Supreme Court ruling and the failure to pass an Appropriation Bill, masks a deeper political agenda. They are urging the UN to send a team to investigate corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary and help restore public trust in the legal system.
