Court dismisses suit against Tinubu over emergency rule in Rivers

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a suit challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s March 18, 2025 proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The emergency rule, which suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, also paved the way for the appointment of an administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during the period.

Justice James Omotosho, in his judgment on the suit filed by Belema Briggs and four others, held that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the case.

According to him, only the Supreme Court has the constitutional jurisdiction to determine such a matter.

The judge further ruled that none of the five plaintiffs established that they were members of the state’s executive council, lawmakers in the Assembly, or had suffered any injury greater than that of the general public.

He also noted that the plaintiffs did not obtain the fiat of the Rivers State Attorney General before initiating the case.

Justice Omotosho observed that the plaintiffs failed to challenge President Tinubu’s justification that the emergency proclamation was necessary to avert a looming breakdown of law and order.

He dismissed the claims of breach of fundamental rights, stating that the President acted within the provisions of the law on emergency powers to safeguard the state.

Describing the suit as frivolous and baseless, the judge concluded that the plaintiffs lacked the mandate of Rivers people to sue on their behalf.