By Kolawole Ojebisi
A Federal High court of competent jurisdiction has signalled its resolve to entertain a suit filed against the imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is as a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the service of the process challenging the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State on Tinubu, Rivers State Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Justice James Omotosho who gave the order on Monday also ordered the service of the court papers on the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), while adjourning to May 21.
Earlier, counsel for the applicants, Ebun-Oluwa Adegboruwa (SAN), informed the court that they would need an adjournment to enable them to serve the processes.
Yirbari Israel Nulog, Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal and Gracious Eyoh-Sifumbukho are asking the court to set aside the appointment of Ibas as the sole administrator for Rivers State, and to restrain him from acting or continuing to act in that capacity in pursuance of his appointment on March 18.
They are seeking among others, “An order of injunction restraining the 1st (Tinubu), 3rd (Ibas) defendants, including their agents, representatives or such other persons acting on their behalf from treating or continuing to treat the deputy governor and members of the House of Assembly as having been suspended by the 1st defendant (Tinubu).”
They are contending that by virtue of Section 1(1) and (2) and 176(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the plaintiffs, who are indigenes and residents of Rivers State of Nigeria, are entitled to have a democratically elected Governor of Rivers State who shall be the chief executive of the state.
