The Supreme Court has upheld the president’s constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency in any part of the country to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

In a split decision of six to one, the apex court also affirmed the president’s authority to suspend elected officials for a limited period during a state of emergency.

The ruling followed a suit filed by Adamawa State alongside 10 other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led states, challenging the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State in March.

President Tinubu had suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

Delivering the majority judgment, Mohammed Idris held that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants the president the discretion to determine the measures required during a state of emergency.

The court consequently struck out and dismissed the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

The state of emergency in Rivers State was lifted in September.

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday considered sweeping reforms to the legal profession, passing into second reading a bill seeking to amend the Legal Practitioners Act 2004. Central to the proposal is a mandatory two-year pupillage programme for newly called lawyers, designed to align training and regulation with global best practices.

Debating the bill at plenary, lawmakers agreed that the legal system must evolve in response to technological advancement, complex commercial transactions, and growing demands for professional accountability. The bill was sponsored and led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

According to Bamidele, the current law — nearly six decades old in design — no longer reflects contemporary realities of legal practice. He explained that the reform seeks to modernise oversight structures, strengthen discipline mechanisms, and enhance the quality of service within the profession.

A major highlight of the bill is the restructuring of the Body of Benchers, which, for the first time, will be established as a corporate legal entity with financial autonomy, strengthened secretariat, and defined rule-making authority. The reforms also introduce a clearer institutional framework for committees, oversight, and policy enforcement.

The Senate Leader stressed that the initiative would deliver “a coordinated and well-modernised regulatory framework that addresses admission to the bar, discipline, and professional standards.”

The bill also seeks to fast-track disciplinary processes by reorganising the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC). Under the proposed structure, multiple panels would sit across the country while wielding broader sanctioning powers, including suspension, disbarment, restitution, compensation, cost awards, and formal apologies. For transparency, disciplinary outcomes will be published, while affected practitioners will retain the right of appeal to the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the proposal creates a new Ethics, Adherence and Enforcement Committee empowered to inspect law offices, demand records, investigate public complaints, and prosecute cases before the LPDC.

To further boost competence, two years of compulsory pupillage and ongoing professional development will now be requirements for lawyers before full practice certification and licence renewal.

The bill also criminalises unauthorised legal practice, clearly defining the practice of law to protect the public from impersonators and unqualified service providers. Other provisions address the regulation of foreign lawyers, reform of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria rank, and improved safeguards for clients and public trust.

Speaking in support, Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno, recalled his experience entering practice over 35 years ago, noting that the realities of the digital age justify reform.

“This bill is very apt and germane,” Monguno said. “We are in the digital age, and our legal profession must reflect these realities.”

The Senate subsequently referred the bill to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for public hearing and a report within two weeks.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the Nigerian contingent of the US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, a new collaborative platform aimed at strengthening security cooperation between both countries.

The decision follows agreements reached during a recent high-level visit to Washington, D.C., led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu will head the Nigerian side of the Working Group, supported by senior officials drawn from key security and government institutions.

The Nigerian members include Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard M. Doro.

Also on the team are the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed; and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Ms. Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser and Mr. Paul Alabi of the Nigerian Embassy in the United States will serve as the secretariat.

President Tinubu urged the members to work closely with their US counterparts to ensure the effective implementation of all agreements reached across various sectors.

The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.