Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, calling it illegal.
In a statement released to the media, Falana argued that the President’s action cannot be justified under any of the 320 sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
While acknowledging that Section 305 of the Constitution grants the President authority to take extraordinary measures to restore law and order in the event of a breakdown of public safety, Falana emphasized that such measures do not include suspending an elected Governor, Deputy Governor, or dissolving other democratic institutions.
Falana, therefore, urged the President to adhere to constitutional principles and immediately reinstate Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Odu, and restore all democratic structures in Rivers State.
He added, “This call is made without prejudice to the President’s duty to implement extraordinary measures to restore law and order in Rivers State under Governor Fubara, in full compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.”
