The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has set May 26, 2025, to begin hearing a constitutional suit filed against the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Professor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly.
According to a report by Legit.ng, the lawsuit was filed by Farah Dagogo, a former lawmaker and 2023 governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Dagogo contends that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency and subsequent suspension of the elected officials has no constitutional basis.
President Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, the Nigerian Senate, and the appointed sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retired), are listed as defendants in the case. At the hearing held on May 12, only Ibas appeared in court through his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, who requested more time to respond to the originating summons.
Justice Adamu Mohammed granted the request but made it clear that the hearing would proceed on the next scheduled date, regardless of any further delays.
Reacting to the court’s adjournment, Dagogo’s lawyer, Cosmas Enweluzo, maintained that the president’s actions were without legal justification. “The constitution is clear. What happened in Rivers State is outside its provisions,” Enweluzo stated.
The hearing is expected to address both the legality of the state of emergency declared on March 18 and the appointment of a sole administrator in place of democratically elected officials.
Article updated 1 month ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
