Fresh Suit Challenges NASS Role in Rivers Emergency Rule
A new lawsuit has been filed at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt by the civil society group, Initiative for Freedom, Conflict Preservation and Social Integration, contesting the National Assembly’s approval of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The group is questioning the legality of NASS ratifying Ibas’ appointment and handling the state’s 2025 budget under a purported emergency rule.
Defendants include Ibas, the National Assembly, and the Attorney General of the Federation. This comes a month after all related suits on the Rivers crisis were moved to Abuja.
During Monday’s court session, the defendants’ counsel, Ola Faro, sought more time to file responses. Justice Muhammad Turaki adjourned the case to July 21 for hearing.
Speaking outside the courtroom, plaintiff’s counsel, Kingdom Chukwuezi, said the suit aims to clarify what the group sees as an unconstitutional overreach by the National Assembly.
President Bola Tinubu had no legal representative in court.
