The appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as sole administrator of Rivers State has triggered multiple court cases challenging its legality.
Since taking office on March 18, Ibas has faced at least five suits from individuals, civil society groups, lawyers, and PDP governors.
One major suit was filed by Marshall Stanley-Uwom, former Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Stanley-Uwom is asking the court to stop the federal government from disbursing local government allocations to Ibas’ administration.
He argues that Ibas’ appointment violates section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution and a Supreme Court ruling on elected councils.
He also wants the court to compel Ibas to vacate the office and allow the elected governor to resume.
Another Rivers-based civil society group, PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, filed a suit in Port Harcourt over Ibas’ local government appointments.
Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed granted an interim injunction barring Ibas from making caretaker appointments across the state.
Despite the order, Ibas went ahead with the appointments and announced they would take immediate effect from April 7.
Four Rivers residents also filed a case in Abuja seeking to restrain Ibas from acting as sole administrator of the state.
They argue that the action violates their constitutional right to elect an executive, as provided under section 176(1) of the Constitution.
In a separate case, Abuja lawyer Johnmary Jideobi asked the court to declare Ibas’ actions null and void across the country.
He also seeks a permanent injunction against any president appointing a sole administrator for any Nigerian state.
Seven PDP governors have also approached the Supreme Court, calling the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers unconstitutional.
They insist that the president lacks the power to suspend a sitting governor and legislature under section 305 of the Constitution.
Legal experts have expressed concern over the slow pace of these court cases, warning it may erode public trust in the judiciary.
Lawyer Abeny Mohammed (SAN) described the delays as surprising, given the importance of the constitutional issues raised.
Ego Umukoro Esq. said Rivers citizens should await the court’s final decision and called for a political solution to end the crisis.
The ongoing litigations highlight the deep political divide in Rivers and the legal uncertainty surrounding Ibas’ controversial appointment.
