Chidi Odinkalu, a prominent lawyer and human rights advocate, has raised critical questions regarding the involvement of Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Agim in recent developments related to the state of emergency in Rivers State.

On social media, Odinkalu posted a series of tweets, alleging that Justice Agim, who authored the controversial judgment on February 28, 2025, which led to the state of emergency in Rivers State, may have been present during a ceremony at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), where the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, was conferred with an honorary doctorate.

In his tweets, Odinkalu questioned whether Justice Agim, who is depicted in a photograph alongside Wike, had accompanied the governor to the event. He pointedly asked if the Supreme Court justice, whose recent judgments have been heavily criticized, had become an “accessory” in the political machinations surrounding the state of emergency.

“Emmanuel Agim – 1st left in the pic on the right (unless I am mistaken) was the @SupremeCourtNg Justice who wrote the judgment of 28 Feb 2025 leading to the #SoE in Rivers State. Did he accompany @GovWike to @Unical1975 for this event? Supreme Court justice is now an accessory?!” Odinkalu tweeted.

The event in question took place during the University of Calabar’s 50th anniversary and 37th convocation ceremony, where Wike was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in law. The ceremony was attended by several high-profile figures, including Senate President, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Senators, House of Representatives members, and traditional rulers such as the embattled 15th Emir of Kano, Emir Bayero. The Emir, who also serves as the Chancellor of the University of Calabar, participated in the ceremony.

Odinkalu also expressed concerns over the possibility of undue influence, highlighting that Justice Agim had authored judgments in favor of Wike, which he described as “improbable” and issued “like candies.” This comment reflects ongoing public controversy over the judgment that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, a decision that many have criticized as unconstitutional.

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