Breaking: Court Dismisses Legal Challenge to Tinubu’s Rivers State Emergency Move

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that contested the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025.

After Tinubu declared a state of emergency, Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were suspended for six months.

Additionally, an administrator was appointed to oversee the affairs during that time.

The five plaintiffs lacked the legal authority to launch the case, according to Justice Omotosho’s ruling in a lawsuit against the emergency rule filed by Belema Briggs and four others.

“Only the Supreme Court can decide such a case as constituted,” the judge stated.

None of the five plaintiffs claimed to be members of the State Executive Committee, the House of Assembly, or to have suffered any more severe injuries than the rest of Rivers State’s population, the court ruled in its ruling on Thursday.

To make matters worse, the Court determined that none of the plaintiffs had the Attorney General of the State’s will to bring the lawsuit.

In addition, Justice Omotosho stated that the plaintiffs had not contested or contested President Tinubu’s assertion that he had declared a state of emergency to prevent an impending breakdown of lawlessness.

Judge Omotosho ruled that Tinubu’s application of the relevant Emergency Rule Order law to avert the unpleasant circumstance rendered the plaintiffs’ allegation of a fundamental rights violation against him unfounded.

Because the other Rivers residents’ consent was not sought before bringing the action on their behalf, Justice Omotosho declared it to be baseless and frivolous.

More information later.