The High Court of Rivers State has officially dismissed a widely circulated online report claiming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara obtained a court order nullifying the appointment of a sole administrator and directing their removal from the Government House.
The report had alleged that a ruling was delivered by Justice Boma Diepriye, declaring the appointment “illegal, null, and void.” However, the judiciary has clarified that no such ruling was issued—and that the information presented was not only false but misleading.
In a strongly worded statement signed by Chief Registrar David Ihua-Maduenyi, the court emphasized that Justice Boma Diepiri—whose name appears to have been mistaken for that of Justice Diepriye—is indeed a judge of the Rivers State High Court, but not of the Federal High Court as implied in the report. More importantly, Justice Diepiri is currently on Easter vacation which began on April 14, 2025, and is not the vacation judge presiding during the recess period.
The court made it explicitly clear: no State High Court has issued any order related to the appointment or removal of a sole administrator in the Rivers State Government House.
“It is regrettable that some bloggers and online news reporters have traded professionalism on the altar of pecuniary gains they seek to derive from traffic on their social media handles and web pages,” the statement read.
The judiciary further cautioned the public and media practitioners to verify facts and seek proper clarification on any court-related news before publication.
“The Rivers State Judiciary enjoins the general public to disregard the false and misleading publication and rely only on official court communications,” the statement concluded.
As political tensions continue to simmer in Rivers State, the judiciary’s swift response underscores the need for accuracy and responsibility in media reporting—particularly when misinformation threatens to escalate already fragile situations.
