Court Orders Service On Tinubu, Ibas In Rivers Suit Arguing Constitutional Rights To Elected Governor

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the service of the process challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on President Bola Tinubu, Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Justice James Omotosho on Monday also ordered the service of the court papers on the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and adjourned to May 21.

Earlier, counsel for the applicants, Ebun-Oluwa Adegboruwa (SAN), informed the court that they would need an adjournment to enable them to serve the processes.

Yirbari Israel Nulog, Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal and Gracious Eyoh-Sifumbukho are asking the court to set aside the appointment of Ibas as the sole administrator for Rivers State, and to restrain him from acting or continuing to act in that capacity in pursuance of his appointment on March 18.

They are seeking among others, “An order of injunction restraining the 1st (Tinubu), 3rd (Ibas) defendants, including their agents, representatives or such other persons acting on their behalf from treating or continuing to treat the deputy governor and members of the House of Assembly as having been suspended by the 1st defendant (Tinubu).”

They are contending that by virtue of Section 1(1) and (2) and 176(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the plaintiffs, who are indigenes and residents of Rivers State of Nigeria, are entitled to have a democratically elected Governor of Rivers State who shall be the chief executive of the state.