*Says Rivers State Allocation May Have Financed National Assembly Votes
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Renowned legal scholar and former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has strongly criticized the Supreme Court and the National Assembly over recent political developments in Rivers State.
He raised concerns about judicial integrity, the sudden release of the state’s withheld federal allocation, and allegations of bribery surrounding the approval of a state of emergency in the state.
Odinkalu first took aim at the Supreme Court’s defense of Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim’s attendance at a University of Calabar (UNICAL) event. Justice Agim’s presence at the convocation, alongside the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, sparked speculation about judicial bias, given recent rulings perceived to favor Wike and former Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero.
The Supreme Court denied any wrongdoing, insisting Agim was merely an honoree. However, Odinkalu dismissed this defense as “shamelessly defending the indefensible,” warning that the judiciary must uphold public trust.
Beyond judicial concerns, Odinkalu also alleged that members of the National Assembly were financially induced to support President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. He suggested that the sudden release of Rivers State’s withheld federal allocation was linked to securing legislative approval for emergency rule and appointing a sole administrator to govern the state.
“What if the withheld @riversstategov allocation was unlocked in order to use it to finance the purchase [of] the votes of @nassnigeria behind the State of Emergency, sir?” Odinkalu questioned in a post on X.
His comments followed widespread reports that lawmakers received payments to approve the emergency rule. While some sources claimed senators and House of Representatives members were given $15,000 and $10,000, respectively, to back the measure, House Committee on FCT Chairman Mukhtar Betara denied the bribery allegations. He clarified that lawmakers only received $5,000 as a “Sallah gift,” a tradition he likened to Santa Claus giving presents.
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