The Human Rights Institute of West Africa (HURIWA) has prompted international embassies, including those of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, to take action against judges involved in the recent court decisions that have sparked controversy in Nigeria.
The group has likened the judgments to a “constitutional coup” that undermines the nation’s democratic fabric. According to HURIWA, the verdicts contravene a well-established Supreme Court principle, which guarantees that states cannot be denied statutory allocations by federal authorities.
Moreover, HURIWA believes that the judgments put the administration of Rivers State and its governor, Nyesom Wike, at risk of political destabilization, and thus, this is a calculated strategy to undermine governance through the judicial system.
The organization emphasizes that such “partisan” decisions blatantly disregard the principles of judicial impartiality, as the judiciary is expected to safeguard constitutional guarantees rather than favoring specific political agendas.
Furthermore, HURIWA warns that withholding financial allocations from Rivers State may lead to civil unrest, as threats of disrupting crucial infrastructure, including oil pipelines, have been issued by groups in the region, precipitating concerns about escalating instability in the area.
The group stresses that the court’s ruling aggravates the existing tensions and may incite further instability in the region, likening the situation to pouring oil on the flames of political discord in Rivers State.
The decision, according to HURIWA, undermines the legitimacy of Governor Wike’s administration, and thus, it is unconstitutional and akin to a plot to forcefully remove the governor without following due process.
