The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025.
Justice James Omotosho, delivering judgment on Thursday, struck out the case filed by Belema Briggs and four others, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked the legal capacity to institute the action.
The court held that only the Supreme Court could properly entertain such a matter, noting that none of the plaintiffs was a member of the Rivers State Executive Council, House of Assembly, or had suffered an injury distinct from other residents of the state.
Justice Omotosho further observed that the plaintiffs neither obtained the fiat of the State Attorney General to file the case nor effectively challenged President Tinubu’s justification that the emergency rule was necessary to avert a breakdown of law and order.
He ruled that the claims of breach of fundamental rights had no merit, as the President acted within the law by invoking emergency powers.
“The case is frivolous and baseless since the mandate of the people of Rivers was not obtained before instituting the action on their behalf,” the judge declared.
Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers had suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the House of Assembly for six months, with an administrator appointed to oversee the state’s affairs during the period.
Details later.