The federal government of Nigeria, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been sued at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of democratically elected officials.
The lawsuit, filed on March 20, 2025, under case number ECW/CCJ/APP/18/25, seeks to overturn the suspension of elected leaders and the removal of democratic structures in Rivers State, calling for the restoration of constitutional governance.
The plaintiffs, Harry Ibiso and 11 others, along with the Eastern Zone of the Ijaw Youth Council, are also demanding that the court nullify all actions and directives issued by Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, who was appointed by President Tinubu on March 18.
The applicants argue that Tinubu lacked the constitutional authority to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that their removal violates the fundamental rights of the people of Rivers State.
“By doing so, the defendant has unlawfully stripped the people of Rivers State of their democratic rights, effectively silencing their political voice and undermining their dignity as human beings,” the suit states.
The plaintiffs further contend that a state of emergency cannot be used as a tool for executive overreach, emphasizing that it must not usurp the governor’s authority or the legislature’s lawmaking powers.
The case, which was filed by constitutional lawyer Festus Ogwuche, is awaiting a hearing date from the ECOWAS court.