Supreme Court Responds to Allegations of Justice Attending UNICAL Convocation with Wike

The Supreme Court has dismissed claims that Justice Emmanuel Agim attended the University of Calabar (UNICAL) convocation alongside the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The court’s Director of Information & Public Relations, Festus Akande, released a statement on Monday to clarify the situation.

Justice Agim Attended in a Personal Capacity

According to Akande, Justice Agim was at the convocation independently and not as a representative of any government body. The statement emphasized that any suggestion otherwise is misleading and undermines the judiciary’s independence.

Rumors began spreading after a photo showed Agim seated next to Wike at the event. The speculation gained momentum when human rights lawyer Chidi Odinkalu shared the image on social media, linking it to the recent political crisis in Rivers State.

Clarifying the Political Connection

Justice Agim had recently delivered the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Rivers State political dispute. The verdict required Governor Siminalayi Fubara to re-present the 2025 budget to the state House of Assembly and upheld the status of 27 pro-Wike lawmakers. Some critics saw the ruling as favoring Wike, a key figure in the political conflict.

The crisis in Rivers escalated with violent attacks on oil facilities, leading President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency. The move suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the state’s legislature, placing a sole administrator in charge for six months.

Supreme Court Sets the Record Straight

In response to the rumors, the Supreme Court explained that Justice Agim was invited to the convocation as an alumnus and honoree. The university conferred an honorary doctorate in law on him for his contributions to the legal profession.

Justice Agim, who previously served as Chief Justice in Gambia and Swaziland, is a respected legal figure. He currently holds the ninth position among the 20 justices of the Nigerian Supreme Court.

The court also confirmed that Agim obtained permission before attending the event. It urged the public and media to verify facts before spreading unverified reports.