The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday struck out a suit filed against President Bola Tinubu over the March 18, 2025, emergency rule declared in Rivers State.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the five plaintiffs — Belema Briggs and four others — lacked the legal authority to institute the action.
Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers in March, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly for six months. He also appointed a sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.
Dissatisfied, the plaintiffs challenged the president’s decision in court. However, on September 18, 2025, Tinubu announced the termination of the emergency rule. In a statement, he disclosed that more than 40 cases had been filed to contest the measure, including one by the Peoples Democratic Party before the Supreme Court.
Justice Omotosho held that the claim that Tinubu declared the emergency to avert a breakdown of law and order was “neither challenged nor disputed” by the plaintiffs. He further ruled that their argument of fundamental rights violations “did not hold water because the appropriate law on emergency rule was invoked by Tinubu to prevent an unpleasant situation.”
Describing the matter as “frivolous and baseless,” the judge said the plaintiffs lacked the mandate of the Rivers people to sue on their behalf. He pointed out that none of them was a member of the State Executive Council, the House of Assembly, or had suffered any harm beyond that of the wider public.
The court also noted that the plaintiffs did not obtain authorization from the State Attorney General before instituting the action.
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