In a legal challenge that could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s federal structure, an Abuja-based lawyer has filed a suit seeking the removal of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. The suit, registered under FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, accuses President Bola Tinubu and other top officials of overstepping constitutional boundaries.
Filed by legal practitioner Johnmary Jideobi through a consortium of lawyers led by Mr. Chimezie Enuka, the suit names President Tinubu as the 1st defendant, followed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Attorneys-General of all 36 states as defendants two through thirty-nine. The plaintiff asserts that neither the President nor his appointees have the constitutional authority to remove, suspend, or tamper with the tenure of duly elected Governors and Deputy-Governors.
Central to the case is the suspension of the Rivers State Governor and Deputy-Governor on March 18, 2025, and the subsequent appointment of Vice Admiral Ibas as Sole Administrator—a term the plaintiff insists is alien to the amended 1999 Constitution. “I have never seen the word ‘Sole Administrator’ in our Constitution,” the affidavit states, warning that without judicial intervention, such removals could become a dangerous precedent.
The legal action demands a declaration that all actions and decisions by Vice Admiral Ibas in his capacity as Sole Administrator are unconstitutional, null, and void across Nigeria. It further seeks a perpetual injunction to restrain President Tinubu and his agents from further interfering with the tenure of state executives or appointing a sole administrator in any state.
According to the plaintiff, the suit is not merely a challenge against a single appointment but a defense of the rule of law and the federal principle of separation of powers enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. He contends that only the circumstances set out in Sections 180, 188, 189, and 306 of the 1999 Constitution justify any such removal of elected state officials. The affidavit warns of the potential for anarchy if the President is allowed to unilaterally remove Governors and Deputy-Governors.
No hearing date has yet been set for the matter. As the case unfolds, legal experts and political analysts alike will be watching closely, aware that the outcome could redefine executive authority and state-federal relations in Nigeria.
