Court Summons Tinubu, Akpabio, CBN, Others Over Emergency Rule In Rivers

• Court in Port Harcourt summoned President Tinubu over Rivers’ emergency declaration.
• Plaintiffs argue the action violates Nigeria’s Constitution and the African Charter.
• The court gave defendants 30 days to respond or risk judgment in absentia.

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has summoned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and seven other parties over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The suit, filed under Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/45/2025, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of Peoples Life Improvement Foundation, alongside Precious Elekima and Inanna Wright Harry. The plaintiffs are challenging the legality of the emergency proclamation made by the President on March 18, 2025.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that other defendants in the suit include the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, Rivers State Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In the originating summons, the plaintiffs raised constitutional concerns about the validity of the state of emergency under Nigerian law. They argue that the action contravenes Section 305(3)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act).

Among their demands, the plaintiffs seek to restrain the Rivers State Sole Administrator from appointing caretaker committees for the 23 local government areas, making commissioner appointments, awarding contracts, or spending from the state treasury.

They also request the reinstatement of the suspended executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State Government and a perpetual injunction preventing the President from suspending any democratically elected officials in the state.

The court has granted the defendants 30 days to respond to the suit, warning that failure to do so may result in proceedings continuing in their absence.

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