The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday adjourned a suit filed by Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi, seeking the removal of Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas (Rtd), the recently appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
Justice James Omotosho, the trial judge, adjourned the hearing to June 11, 2025, after being informed by the plaintiff’s counsel, Chimezie Enuka, that he was unable to serve the hearing notice to Zamfara and Bauchi States, the 8th and 9th defendants in the suit.
At Thursday’s proceedings, only Lagos, Bayelsa, Taraba, and Edo States were represented in court out of the 36 state governments named as defendants. Enuka assured the court that all defendants would be served by April 13, 2025.
Jideobi’s suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, lists President Bola Tinubu as the 1st defendant, while Vice Admiral Ibas (Rtd), the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Attorneys-General of the 36 states are listed as the 2nd to 39th defendants.
In the suit, Jideobi is requesting the court to set aside “all actions and decisions” made by Ibas as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, arguing that his appointment is unconstitutional, null, and void. He is also asking for a perpetual injunction restraining President Tinubu from removing or suspending any elected Governor or Deputy Governor of a state, as well as from appointing any Sole Administrator in any state.
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The plaintiff’s counsel contends that the President has no constitutional authority to interfere with the tenure of a duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor. Jideobi further argues that the appointment of a Sole Administrator like Ibas is not provided for in the Constitution of Nigeria.
In his affidavit, Jideobi maintains that while President Tinubu has the constitutional power to declare a state of emergency, he does not have the authority to remove or suspend elected officials. He asserts that Nigeria practices federalism, and no Governor or Deputy Governor is an appointee of the President.
He also expressed concern that, if the court does not intervene, the removal of duly elected Governors and Deputy Governors could become a regular practice, leading to anarchy.
The case has been adjourned to June 11, 2025, for further proceedings.
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