A Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to remove the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as his appointment violates the constitution.
The suit filed by Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, also seeks to nullify all decisions made by Ibas as Sole Administrator.
“A declaration of this Honorable Court that in view of the entirety of Sections 1, 5(2), 180, 188, 189, 305 and 306 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has NO constitutional authority to either remove, suspend or otherwise tamper with the tenure of a duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor of a State and appoint a sole Administrator [or any other substitute howsoever called or described] such as the 3rd Defendant herein for that State.
“A declaration of this Honourable Court that the purported suspension of the Governor and the Deputy-Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria by the 1st Defendant on Tuesday the 18th day of March, 2025 is unconstitutional, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever.
“A declaration of this Honourable Court that the purported nomination/appointment and swearing in of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd)by the 1st Defendant as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State of Nigeria is unconstitutional, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever.
“An order of this Honourable Court setting aside the suspension of the Governor and the Deputy-Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria by the 1st Defendant on Tuesday the 18th day of March, 2025 for being unconstitutional, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever.
President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Attorneys-General of the 36 states are listed as defendants.
Jideobi argued that the Constitution does not allow the removal of an elected governor outside the provisions outlined in Sections 180, 188, 189, and 306 and wants the court to stop the President from appointing sole administrators in any state.
No date has been set for the hearing.
