A civil society group, Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Preservation and Social Integration, has taken legal action at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, challenging the legality of the National Assembly’s involvement in appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The group argues that the National Assembly overstepped its constitutional bounds by ratifying the appointment and by forming a committee to oversee what they call an “emergency rule” in the state, including handling the state’s 2025 budget.
The lawsuit lists the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibas, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the National Assembly as defendants.
This move comes shortly after all cases concerning the emergency rule and the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly were transferred to the Federal High Court in Abuja, in line with the court’s rules.
When the case came up in court, counsel for the first and second defendants, Ola Faro, asked for additional time to respond to the originating summons.
The plaintiff’s counsel did not object, and Justice Muhammad Turaki adjourned the hearing to July 21, 2025.
Outside the courtroom, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Kingdom Chukwuezi, told reporters that the group is seeking legal clarity on what it considers an unconstitutional role played by the National Assembly in governing Rivers State.
Meanwhile, although President Bola Tinubu is reportedly involved in the broader situation, no legal representative appeared in court on his behalf.
Faro, representing two of the defendants, declined to speak to the press.
