A civil society organization, Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Preservation and Social Integration, has filed another case at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, this time challenging the legality of the National Assembly’s ratification of the appointment of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIbas.
The group is questioning the authority of the National Assembly to approve such an appointment and to constitute a committee to oversee the purported emergency rule in Rivers State, including its reception and handling of the state’s 2025 budget.
Defendants in the suit include the Sole Administrator, Ibas, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the National Assembly.
This legal action came barely a month after all suits related to the state of emergency and the suspension of the Rivers State Governor, SiminalayiFubara, his Deputy, Professor NgoziNmaOdu and State House of Assembly members were transferred to the Federal High Court in Abuja, in line with Order 49 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules.
When the matter came up in court, counsel to the first and second defendants, Ola Faro, requested more time to respond to the originating summons.
The plaintiff did not oppose the request, and the presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Turaki adjourned the case to July 21, 2025, for hearing.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, plaintiff’s counsel Kingdom Chukwuezi explained the basis of the legal action, emphasizing that the group is seeking “clarity” on what it describes as an “unconstitutional role taken by the National Assembly in the administration of Rivers State.”
Report has it that while no legal representative appeared in court on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, counsel to two of the defendants, Faro, declined to comment on the matter.
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