A civil society organisation, Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Prevention and Social Integration, has said it may approach a Court of Appeal following the dismissal of a suit it filed against President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the former Sole Administrator of Rivers State over the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Friday dismissed the suit in which the group challenged Tinubu’s authority to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appoint Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator of the state.
The President had, in March this year, declared a state of emergency in the state and suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
Following the suspension, Tinubu appointed Ibas a sole administrator to charge of running the affairs of the state for the period.
But the plaintiff asked the court to declare Tinubu’s proclamation and Fubara’s suspension as ultra vires, illegal, and in contravention of the intent of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.
Ruling on the suit, the presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Turaki, held that the plaintiff lacked locus standi to institute the suit since Fubara was not a party to the case.
He described the case as an academic exercise.
When approached for comment after the court session, counsel to the plaintiff, Amegua Lezina, said they would study the judgment to determine their next line of action.
Lezina said, “The position the court took was simply because the present governor of Rivers State, who was then suspended, was not joined as a party. So, for that reason, the court decided not to delve into the merit of the matter.
“Be that as it may, we will look at the content of the judgment, consult with our client, and if need be, proceed to the Court of Appeal, since the merit of the matter was not addressed by the court.”
Meanwhile, the court adjourned a separate suit by the same organisation challenging the legality of the National Assembly’s ratification of Ibas’ appointment to January 23, 2026, for judgment.
Justice Turaki adjourned the suit after parties adopted their final written addresses.
Also, in another suit filed by the organisation challenging the appointment and constitution of the Chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, the case was adjourned to December 5, 2025, for adoption of processes.
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