Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Tinubu’s Emergency Proclamation in Rivers
The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to nullify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s March 18, 2025, proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The declaration, which suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, also saw the appointment of an administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs—Belema Briggs and four others—lacked the legal standing to institute the case. The judge explained that only the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to entertain such a matter.
Justice Omotosho further held that the claimants neither proved to be members of the State Executive Council or House of Assembly, nor demonstrated suffering any injury greater than that of the general population. He also noted that the plaintiffs did not obtain authorization from the Rivers State Attorney General before filing the suit.
The court observed that President Tinubu’s justification for the emergency declaration—citing the need to prevent a breakdown of law and order—was not contested by the plaintiffs.
In dismissing the suit, Justice Omotosho described the claims of fundamental rights violations as unfounded, stressing that the President acted within the law by invoking emergency powers. He added that the case was frivolous since the plaintiffs lacked the mandate of Rivers citizens to sue on their behalf.
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