A new legal action has been filed at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt by a civil society group, Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Preservation and Social Integration, challenging the role of the National Assembly in the administration of Rivers State under an alleged emergency rule.
The suit contests the legality of the National Assembly’s ratification of the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator of Rivers State. The group also questions the Assembly’s authority to constitute a committee overseeing the state’s affairs, including the handling of the 2025 budget.
Joined as defendants in the suit are Ibas, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the National Assembly.
This development comes just weeks after similar suits concerning the state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly were transferred to the Federal High Court in Abuja under Order 49 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules.
At the latest hearing, counsel to the first and second defendants, Ola Faro, requested additional time to respond to the originating summons. The request was unopposed by the plaintiff, leading Justice Muhammad Turaki to adjourn the matter until July 21, 2025.
Outside the courtroom, plaintiff’s counsel, Kingdom Chukwuezi, told reporters that the suit aims to seek legal clarity on what the group sees as the National Assembly’s unconstitutional involvement in the governance of Rivers State.
No lawyer appeared in court on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. Counsel for two of the defendants, Ola Faro, declined to comment on the case.
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