LAWYERS slammed Nigeria’s leader after he declared an emergency in oil-rich Rivers state and suspended its governor and lawmakers on Tuesday.

The announcement by President Bola Tinubu follows a spate of  vandalism to pipelines that contribute to the country’s status as Africa’s top oil producer.

A crisis in Rivers has brewed for months between incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara and state lawmakers, many of whom are backed by his predecessor.