Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has explained his decision to remain neutral on the potential declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. According to him, the issue is currently before the judiciary, making it inappropriate to comment or take sides.
Speaking on Thursday during a press briefing at the unveiling of ‘Tribulations and Trophies: Bola Ajibola… in His Own Words!’ — the autobiography of former Attorney-General of the Federation and ex-International Court of Justice judge, Bola Ajibola — Fagbemi urged Nigerians to refrain from politicizing legal matters.
He said: “When issues like this come up, people should go and read very well and get themselves familiar with what the law says.”
Fagbemi emphasized that legal matters must be approached with objectivity, not driven by emotions or political bias.
“It’s not a matter of sentiment or emotions, but a matter of basic facts on ground.”
He further urged citizens to separate politics from legal interpretations: “Nigerians should stop interpreting the law based on political partisanship, but let’s stick to the law. You’ll see that I’ve avoided taking sides on any issue, though I’m part of the government.”
Reiterating his stance, the AGF pointed out the importance of allowing the courts to decide: “I know that this matter has been subjected to judicial scrutiny, and we should allow the court to make its decision one way or the other.”
He concluded with a word of caution: “People should avoid making unnecessary comments. Since we have subjected the matter to court interpretation, let’s wait for the judiciary to make its pronouncement.”
