A lawsuit filed against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu contesting the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, was dismissed by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were suspended for six months after Tinubu declared a state of emergency.
Appointing an administrator to oversee the affairs during that time was another result of it.
In a lawsuit against the emergency rule that Belema Briggs and four other plaintiffs brought, Justice Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal authority to start the case.
According to the judge, only the Supreme Court can decide a case like this.
In its ruling on Thursday, the court determined that none of the five plaintiffs had any claims to membership in the House of Assembly or the State Executive Committee, nor had they sustained any injuries that were more severe than those experienced by the rest of Rivers State’s population.
The Court further ruled that none of the plaintiffs had the Attorney General of the State’s authority to bring the action.
Judge Omotosho further stated that the plaintiffs did not contest or question President Tinubu’s assertion that he declared a state of emergency to prevent an impending collapse of law and order.
Justice Omotosho ruled that Tinubu’s accusation of violating the plaintiffs’ fundamental rights was unfounded since Tinubu had used the Emergency Rule Order law to avoid the unpleasant circumstance.
Due to the fact that the other residents of Rivers were not consulted before the action was instituted on their behalf, Justice Omotosho declared it to be false and superficial.
Specifics will be provided later.
