Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed against
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu challenging the March 18, 2025, proclamation of a state of
emergency in Rivers State.
The declaration made by Tinubu led to the suspension of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi
Fubara, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months which led to the
appointment of an administrator who run the affairs of the state for that period.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Belema Briggs and four others against the emergency rule,
Justice Omotosho held that the five plaintiffs lacked the legal power to institute the case. The
judge made it known that such a case can only be determined by the Supreme Court.
Justice Omotosho said that the claim of President Tinubu that made him to imposed state of
emergency to avoid a looming breakdown of law and order was not disputed by the plaintiffs,
claiming that the case was frivolous and baseless because the mandate of the people of Rivers
was not obtained before instituting it on their behalf.