Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s March 18, 2025, proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The emergency declaration suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly for six months while the president appointed a sole administrator to oversee the state during that period.
In the suit filed by Belema Briggs and four others, the plaintiffs argued that the action violated their rights.
However, delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal capacity to institute the case, noting that only the Supreme Court could determine such matter.
The judge further held that the plaintiffs neither proved they were members of the state’s executive nor legislature nor suffered any injury beyond that of other residents.
According to the ruling, the plaintiffs also failed to obtain the consent of the state Attorney General before filing the suit.
Justice Omotosho said President Tinubu’s justification that the emergency was declared to avert a breakdown of law and order was neither challenged nor disproved.
He concluded that the case was frivolous and baseless since the plaintiffs had not secured the mandate of the Rivers people to sue on their behalf.
