Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against President Tinubu 

An Abuja Federal High Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. The President had made the proclamation on March 18, 2025.

The emergency rule, declared by Tinubu, had led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, while an administrator was appointed to oversee the state’s affairs.

Delivering judgment in Abuja on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho held that the plaintiffs, Belema Briggs and four others, lacked the legal standing to institute the case.

The court ruled that the matter, as framed, could only be determined by the Supreme Court, not the Federal High Court.

“None of the five plaintiffs claimed to be members of the State Executive Committee, members of the House of Assembly, or suffered any injury greater than the rest of the people of Rivers State,” the judge stated.

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He further noted that the plaintiffs had not obtained the fiat of the Attorney-General of Rivers State to commence the action on behalf of the state.

Justice Omotosho also pointed out that President Tinubu’s justification for imposing emergency rule — to avert a looming breakdown of law and order – was not contested or disproved by the plaintiffs.

The court dismissed the plaintiffs’ argument that their fundamental rights had been violated, holding that the President acted under the appropriate law on the Emergency Rule Order to stabilise the situation in Rivers.

The judge concluded that the case lacked merit, describing it as frivolous and baseless.

“The mandate of other people of Rivers was not obtained before instituting the case on their behalf,” Justice Omotosho ruled.