President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, were absent on Thursday as the Federal High Court in Abuja began hearing a suit challenging the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) as Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
Justice James Omotosho had previously fixed April 10 for the hearing of the case filed by Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, the plaintiff is seeking the nullification of all decisions and actions taken by Ibas in his capacity as Sole Administrator, describing the appointment as unconstitutional and lacking any legal force.
Jideobi is also asking the court to issue an order restraining President Tinubu—either directly or through his agents—from removing, suspending, or interfering with the tenure of the elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State or any other state in Nigeria.
When the matter came up on Thursday, neither Tinubu nor the AGF was in court or represented. Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Chimezie Enuka, informed the court that all defendants—except the Attorneys-General of Zamfara and Bauchi States—had been served with the originating processes and hearing notice.
Following consensus among the lawyers present, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to June 11 for hearing. The court also ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on all the defendants.
President Tinubu is listed as the 1st defendant, while the AGF and the Attorneys-General of Nigeria’s 36 states are named as the 2nd to 39th defendants.
Among the key reliefs sought by the plaintiff is a perpetual injunction restraining President Tinubu from appointing a Sole Administrator in any state of the federation.
In the originating summons filed by a team of lawyers led by Enuka, the plaintiff asked the court to determine whether, under Sections 1, 5(2), 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President has the constitutional authority to suspend or remove a duly elected Governor or Deputy Governor and appoint a Sole Administrator.
He further requested the court to declare that Section 305 of the Constitution does not provide for any circumstance under which a Governor or Deputy Governor’s tenure can be interrupted, other than those expressly stated in Sections 180, 188, 189, and 306.
