A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned to October 13, 2025, a suit seeking to nullify the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. The adjournment is to allow the President, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Sole Administrator of the state to respond to an affidavit filed by a civil society group, Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Prevention and Social Integration.
The suit, filed by the organisation, challenges the legality of the President’s decision and calls for judicial interpretation of the powers exercised in imposing emergency rule and appointing a sole administrator in place of an elected governor.
In a related case also filed by the same organisation, the court is examining the National Assembly’s role in ratifying the appointment of the Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas. The second suit also contests the Assembly’s authority to approve the 2025 budget of Rivers State under the current emergency structure.
At Monday’s proceedings, counsel to the President, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Sole Administrator, Hilton Urbah, informed the court that he had filed a memorandum of conditional appearance and a preliminary objection to the suit. He sought more time to formally respond to the affidavit submitted by the plaintiffs. The request was opposed by Amegua Lezina, counsel to the civil society organisation, but was granted by the court.
Presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Turaki, also heard arguments in the second case and directed Kingdom Chukwueze, counsel to the plaintiffs, to ensure that hearing notices are duly served on the National Assembly, which was not represented in court and had yet to file any response.
Justice Turaki then adjourned both matters to October 13, 2025, for hearing and possible adoption of processes.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, the Country Director of the civil society group, Carlis Evans, said the legal actions were aimed at securing a judicial declaration on whether the President acted within the bounds of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), particularly Section 179(1) and (2), by appointing a sole administrator to act as governor in the state.
Evans said the organisation is committed to upholding democratic principles and constitutional governance, and expressed confidence that the judiciary will provide clarity on what he called “a dangerous constitutional precedent.”
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