Tension Rises In Rivers! Court To Rule July 18 On Moves To Stop Ibas-Led Governance

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled July 18, 2025, to deliver its ruling on a motion seeking to restrain the National Assembly from approving budgets and appointments for Rivers State under the current Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice James Omotosho set the date on Wednesday after hearing submissions from both the plaintiffs’ and the defence’s legal teams during proceedings on the motion for an interlocutory injunction.

The motion, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1190/2025, was initiated by several indigenes of Rivers State and the Registered Trustees of Hope Africa Foundation. Among the plaintiffs are King Oziwe Amba, Chief Julius Bulous, Chief George Ikeme, Chief Amachelu Orlu, and Prince Odioha Wembe.

They are asking the court to bar the National Assembly and its Clerk (named as the 1st and 2nd defendants) from “approving, supporting, or participating in any legislative actions” related to appointments or budget approvals for the Rivers State Government led by Ibas.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibas as Sole Administrator following the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The plaintiffs argue that the 2025 budget presented by Ibas and passed by the National Assembly was based on an “unconstitutional and prohibited ‘voice vote’” that is not recognized by the 1999 Constitution.

Their lead counsel, Ambrose Owuru, urged the court to halt further legislative support to the Ibas-led administration until the main suit is resolved. He further contended that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State lacked legal basis, as the National Assembly failed to meet the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.

In their supporting affidavit, the plaintiffs claimed that the emergency administration has continued to “form committees and disburse funds” despite ongoing protests and increasing unrest in the state. They insist that only a democratically elected governor has the legal authority to govern, and that their constitutional rights to democratic leadership have been violated.

In response, Mohammed Galadima, counsel to the National Assembly and its Clerk, dismissed the application as baseless. In a counter affidavit, the defence described the plaintiffs’ assertions as “fabricated falsehoods” and maintained that all legislative actions followed due process.

Galadima warned that restricting the National Assembly’s role in Rivers State’s governance could lead to “chaos and confusion,” and argued that granting the motion would not serve the interests of justice.

Despite the pending legal battle, the Senate passed Rivers State’s 2025 budget—amounting to ₦1.485 trillion—on June 25 after the appropriation bill scaled its third reading.