Abuja: The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a motion aimed at stopping the National Assembly from approving budgets or appointments of the Rivers State Government under its current Sole Administrator. The court’s decision, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, was based on the fact that the actions the applicants sought to restrain had already been completed.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as the Sole Administrator of Rivers by President Bola Tinubu after the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Justice Omotosho noted that the Senate had already passed the budget for Rivers State on June 25, rendering the application moot. The judge also mentioned that some issues in the motion would be more appropriately addressed during the hearing of the substantive suit, which is scheduled for October 20.
The suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1190/2025, was filed by several indigenes of Rivers and the Registered Trustees of Hope Africa Foundation. The plaintiffs, which include King Oziwe Amba, Chief Julius Bulous, Chief George Ikeme, Chief Amachelu Orlu, and Prince Odioha Wembe, named the National Assembly and its Clerk as the primary defendants.
The applicants requested an interlocutory injunction to prevent the defendants from engaging in legislative activities related to the approval of appointments or budgets for the Rivers State Government. They argued that the proposed state budget was forwarded illegally by Ibas and was based on unconstitutional “voice votes” not provided for in the constitution.
The plaintiffs also contended that the state of emergency declared in Rivers lacked the necessary legislative approval, as the votes used by the National Assembly were unconstitutional. In response, the National Assembly’s lawyer, Mohammed Galadima, argued against the motion, labeling it baseless.
The defendants maintained that the plaintiffs’ affidavit was filled with falsehoods and misrepresentations, and insisted that their actions were constitutional. They argued that granting the motion would lead to governance chaos in Rivers and would not serve justice. Justice Omotosho set July 18 for a ruling on the matter, with the Senate having already passed Rivers State’s 2025 budget, totaling ?1.485 trillion, following its third reading in June.