BREAKING! Federal High Court Stops Rivers Administrator from appointing Sole Administrators in 23 LGAs

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has barred the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ette Ibas, a retired Vice Admiral, from appointing Sole Administrators to run the 23 local government councils in the State.

The presiding judge in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, Justice Adamu Muhammed gave the order on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in the case brought before the court by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative against the Sole Administrator.

In the suit, PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative had prayed the court to grant several reliefs, including “an order of interim injunction restraining the Sole Administrator or his agents from appointing sole administrators or whatever name called for the 23 local government areas”.

The law firm also prayed for any other order deemed necessary in the circumstance.

Consequently, the judge stated that he found the prayers by the petitioner valid to grant and fixed April 14,2025 for hearing.

Vice Admiral Ibas (rtd.) was appointed Sole Administrator by President Bola Tinubu after he declared a State of Emergency in Rivers and suspended for six months, the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Ordu, and members of the State House of Assembly via a nationwide broadcast.

Legal experts have since condemned the declaration as a violation of the Constitution, thus an impeachable offence, with several opinion leaders calling on the National Assembly to immediately impeach the President.

The President had during the broadcast reeled out the terms of reference for the Administrator which included that he was not to make any new laws but continue with existing ones, as well as not to execute projects but continue with the ones on ground.

Curiously, Vice Admiral Ibas (rtd) has cancelled contracts awarded by Governor Siminilayi Fubara and allegedly on a spending spree, announcing days ago that he would present a budget, though stopped short of stating to whom he would present such to.

The Sole Administrator is alleged to have received the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Government House, Port Harcourt, late night on Sunday and allegedly had discussions with him into the wee hours of Monday.

Sources told Kristina Reports that Ibas allegedly collected a list of Wike’s supporters to be appointed into caretaker committees in the 23 LGAs, as well as a list of other members loyal to the FCT Minister to be appointed into key parastatals and the State Civil Service.

Wike is alleged to have travelled to London to fete his disciples – the suspended members of the State House of Assembly – after the midnight visit to the Sole Administrator.

The House of Representatives has, however, warned Ibas against stepping out of line so as not to incur the wrath of the National Assembly.