Examination of the Declaration of State of Emergency under the Nigerian Constitution

Abstract

The declaration of state of emergency has been employed at different times in order to curb or terminate both real and perceived dangerous situations. Nigeria, just like every other country has made provisions on the procedure to be adopted when this extraordinary measure is to be employed in a particular situation. This paper examines the origin of State of Emergency in the Nigerian Constitution and also its application from inception till date. The paper also answer the question as to whether the procedure laid down in the constitution has been complied with in declaring the state of emergencies and finally whether the situations in which those declarations were made actually comes under the situations envisaged by the Constitution.