A legal battle has erupted over the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, as a lawsuit has been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to challenge its validity.
The case, officially registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, was brought before the court on Tuesday, March 25, by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Johnmary Jideobi, who has raised strong objections against Ibas’ appointment.
Jideobi argues that the appointment of a Sole Administrator to govern a state is unconstitutional and has called on the court to render it null and void. He further asserts that any official decisions or actions taken by Ibas in his capacity as the Sole Administrator should also be declared invalid and without legal effect.
In his court filing, Jideobi maintains that there is no constitutional provision allowing such an appointment, emphasizing that this decision could set a dangerous precedent for governance across the country.
The controversy surrounding this legal action originates from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to appoint Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as Sole Administrator following the suspension of Governor Sim Fubara and other top officials of Rivers State.
As the lawsuit unfolds, legal experts and political analysts are closely watching the case, as its outcome could have significant implications on Nigeria’s democratic process and the interpretation of constitutional powers concerning state governance.