An 11-member Independent Judicial Accountability Panel has challenged the Supreme Court’s ruling on the political crisis in Rivers State.
The panel, led by retired Justice Mojeed Owoade of the Court of Appeal, accused the apex court of failing to address the defection of 27 lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Following its inaugural meeting in Abuja on Friday, March 14, 2025, the panel issued a statement highlighting its concerns. According to Vanguard, the panel—which includes three retired justices—conducted an extensive review of high-profile public interest cases.
“The Supreme Court’s judgment in the consolidated appeals leaves uncertainty regarding whether the alleged defection of 27 lawmakers is still a live issue or has been resolved,” the panel stated.
“It is evident that while the court made comments on the defection, it did not directly address the matter.”
The Owoade-led panel further pointed out that, at the time of the judgment, there was no substantive evidence before the Supreme Court proving that the 27 lawmakers had ceased to be legitimate members of the Rivers Assembly. It argued that the court should have refrained from commenting on the matter since litigation on the issue was still ongoing.
However, the panel ruled out any possibility of a judicial review of the ruling, stating that the Supreme Court has already become functus officio in the case.
“Lengthy and complex court judgments often hinder public understanding and, in turn, erode trust in the judiciary,” the panel noted.
Judicial Panel’s Recommendations
- Politicians should refrain from influencing judicial decisions and instead foster a culture of tolerance and cooperation for the greater good.
- Governments at all levels must respect court orders and uphold citizens’ fundamental rights in a democratic system.
- Citizens should actively engage in efforts to hold the judiciary and other government institutions accountable.
- The media should remain fearless, factual, and impartial when investigating and reporting on the judiciary’s role in democracy.
