Rivers Emergency Rule Under Fire: Court Demands High-Level Testimony From President Tinubu And Key Figures

The suit, identified as Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/45/2025, was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Peoples Life Improvement Foundation, along with Precious Elekima and Inanna Wright Harry. The plaintiffs are challenging the legality of the emergency declaration made by the President on March 18, 2025.

Other defendants named in the suit include the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, Rivers State Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The plaintiffs have raised several constitutional concerns, questioning the validity of the President’s action under Nigerian law. They argue that the declaration contravenes Section 305(3)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act).

They are seeking the court to:

• Prevent the state Sole Administrator from appointing caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas.

• Halt any new appointments of commissioners or awarding of contracts.

• Block the administrator from making expenditures from the state treasury.

• Reinstate the suspended executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State Government.

• Issue a perpetual injunction to prevent the President from further suspending any democratically elected officials in the state.

The court has directed the defendants to file their responses within 30 days, warning that failure to do so may lead to the case proceeding without them.