- Court dismisses suit against Tinubu over Rivers emergency rule.
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Judge says plaintiffs lacked standing, only Supreme Court has jurisdiction.
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Tinubu’s action justified to prevent breakdown of law and order.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The emergency rule, announced on March 18, 2025, led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, while an administrator was appointed to manage the state’s affairs.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs, Belema Briggs and four others, lacked the legal standing to institute the case. He explained that none of the plaintiffs were members of the Rivers State Executive Council or the House of Assembly, nor had they shown they suffered any injury beyond that of other residents of the state.
Justice Omotosho further stressed that only the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to determine such matters, not the Federal High Court. He added that the plaintiffs had not secured the consent of the Attorney-General of Rivers State to file the action on behalf of the state.
The court also upheld President Tinubu’s justification for declaring emergency rule, noting that it was intended to prevent a breakdown of law and order. The judge maintained that the plaintiffs failed to dispute this reason and could not prove any violation of their fundamental rights.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho described the suit as frivolous, baseless, and lacking merit, ultimately dismissing the case.
