ABUJA – A legal thunderstorm is set to erupt in the Federal High Court, Abuja, as a landmark constitutional battle unfolds over the controversial appointment of Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, has scheduled April 10, 2025, to hear the explosive suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, which seeks to dismantle President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend democratic governance in the oil-rich state.
Filed by Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, the case not only challenges Ibas’s authority but also seeks sweeping constitutional clarifications that could shake the foundations of federal power in Nigeria.
The Defendants in the Dock
President Tinubu stands as the 1st Defendant, followed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Vice Admiral Ibas himself, and the Attorneys-General of all 36 Nigerian states. The plaintiff argues that Ibas’s appointment is unconstitutional, lacks any legal basis, and poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Constitutional Crisis in the Making?
The suit insists that the President has no constitutional authority to suspend or interfere with the tenures of duly elected Governors or their Deputies. “There is no provision in the amended 1999 Constitution that allows the appointment of a ‘Sole Administrator’ in place of a democratically elected Governor,” Jideobi stated.
He is asking the court to declare all decisions and actions taken by Ibas as “null, void, and of no legal force.” He also seeks a perpetual injunction restraining President Tinubu from ever appointing such an official in any state.
A Historic Interpretation of Law
The plaintiff, through a team of lawyers led by Mr. Chimezie Enuka, has presented a detailed constitutional argument. At the heart of the case is a demand for the court to interpret Sections 1, 5(2), 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306 of the 1999 Constitution.
Among the key reliefs sought are:
- A declaration that Tinubu’s suspension of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State is unconstitutional.
- A nullification of Ibas’s appointment and all actions he has taken.
- An order directing Ibas to immediately vacate Government House, Port Harcourt.
- A blanket ban on future sole administrator appointments in any Nigerian state.
A Fight for Nigeria’s Democratic Soul
Jideobi warned in his 32-paragraph affidavit that the unchecked power to remove elected officials poses a threat to national stability.
“Today it is Rivers. Tomorrow, it could be any state. If the President is allowed to set aside elected officials at will, then we are headed for constitutional anarchy,” he declared.
He emphasized that he filed the suit not for personal gain, but as a patriotic effort to defend the rule of law and the sanctity of the Nigerian Constitution.
As Nigeria watches closely, this case may become a pivotal moment in the nation’s democratic journey — one that tests the boundaries of presidential power and the resilience of constitutional order.
