Rivers Sole Administrator wins as Court Refuses To Halt NASS Approval Of Rivers Budget, Appointments
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a motion seeking to restrain the National Assembly from approving the budgets or appointments of the Rivers State Government under the current ‘Unconstitutional’ Sole Administrator.
Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling delivered on Friday, held that the application was overtaken by events as the Senate had already approved the ₦1.485 trillion 2025 budget of Rivers State, which was submitted by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.).
Ibas was appointed as Sole Administrator by President Bola Tinubu following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara for six months.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the court could not halt an act that had already been completed. “The court is aware that the budget was passed by the Senate on June 25,” he said. He also noted that some of the issues raised in the motion were already part of the substantive suit, which would be addressed at the next hearing.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1190/2025, was filed by several Rivers indigenes and a group, the Registered Trustees of Hope Africa Foundation. Other plaintiffs include King Oziwe Amba, Chief Julius Bulous, Chief George Ikeme, Chief Amachelu Orlu, and Prince Odioha Wembe.
They had asked the court for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the National Assembly and its Clerk from continuing any legislative action involving the state government, including approvals of appointments or budgets submitted by the Sole Administrator. The plaintiffs argued that such actions stemmed from an unconstitutional declaration of emergency and approval through a “voice vote” not recognized by law.
In response, counsel to the National Assembly, Mohammed Galadima, urged the court to reject the motion, describing it as baseless. The National Assembly also dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims as “contrived falsehoods,” insisting that no constitutional breach had occurred.
They warned that granting the motion would disrupt governance and create confusion in the state.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 20, 2025, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
