A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has barred the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from swearing in the newly appointed Chairman and members of the Rivers State Services Commission.
The court gave the order following a suit filed by the former commission members who were appointed by the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
They challenged their removal by the Sole Administrator, claiming it was done without following due process.
The claimants, including Reverend Goodlife Iduoku Ben and others, told the court that their appointments had been confirmed by the State House of Assembly and that their removal had no legal backing.
They insisted that the Sole Administrator had no authority to dismiss them and appoint a new commission.
Justice Frank Onyiri, after hearing final written arguments from both sides, ordered that no action be taken on the inauguration of new appointees until the matter is resolved.
The judge instructed all parties to maintain the current state of affairs and adjourned the case to September 29, 2025, for judgment.
The Sole Administrator, the Accountant General of the state, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, and 11 others were listed as defendants in the case.
