A federal court in Port Harcourt has pushed back its hearing on the Rivers State emergency rule challenge to May 26.
Former House member Farah Dagogo initiated the suit questioning President Tinubu’s authority to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state assembly. Dagogo named President Tinubu, the Senate president, the Senate, the House speaker, and sole administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas as defendants.
At Monday’s hearing, only Senior Advocate Kehinde Ogunwumiju appeared, representing Ibas, and requested additional time to respond to the lawsuit. Dagogo’s lawyer, Cosmas Enweluzo, confirmed all defendants had received court documents, despite their absence.
Judge Adamu Mohammed granted the adjournment but cautioned against further delays.
After the hearing, Enweluzo told journalists the president lacks constitutional authority to take such actions:
“The president cannot act as a ‘tin god’. He does not have the constitutional authority to suspend elected representatives or govern over four million Rivers people and those doing business in Rivers state by fiat. It is a constitutional aberration and must not be allowed,” he said.
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Enweluzo also challenged the security justification: “The insecurity narrative is unfounded. In Benue, Plateau, and Borno states, serious security challenges persist, people are being killed, and some local governments remain under Boko Haram control. Yet no state of emergency was declared there. Rivers State has remained relatively peaceful.”
He added, “Counsel for the fifth defendant informed the court that their staff were at the registry filing processes in response to our originating summons. They requested an adjournment to complete their filings. In fairness, and since it was their first request, we agreed. The court, therefore, adjourned to May 26, 2025. If delays persist beyond that, the court will be entitled to proceed with the case.”
President Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers State on March 18, citing an ongoing political crisis. He suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all assembly members for six months, appointing retired naval chief Ibas as sole administrator.
