A Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the hearing of a lawsuit seeking to remove the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, until June 11.
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case on Thursday to allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to send legal representatives to the hearing.
While Tinubu and the AGF were absent, the attorneys-general of Lagos, Bayelsa, Taraba, and Edo states announced their appearance in court.
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Earlier, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Chimezie Enuka, informed the court that all defendants, except the attorneys-general of Zamfara and Bauchi states, had been properly served with the initial court documents and the hearing notification.
The lawsuit was initiated by Mr. Johnmary Jideobi, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, against the president, the AGF, and all 36 states of the federation.
Jideobi is asking the court to declare all actions and decisions made by the 3rd Defendant (Vice Admiral Ibas rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State to be unconstitutional, void, and without legal force throughout Nigeria.
Furthermore, Jideobi is seeking a permanent court order to restrain President Tinubu and his officials from removing, suspending, or interfering with the tenure of the governor and deputy governor of Rivers State.
He is also requesting a permanent injunction to prevent President Tinubu from appointing any Sole Administrator into any State Government House in the 36 states of the Federation for any reason.
In the originating summons filed through a group of lawyers led by Enuka, the lawyer is asking the court to determine whether, based on the combined interpretation of Sections 1, 5(2), 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President has any constitutional authority to remove, suspend, or interfere with the tenure of a duly elected governor and deputy governor of Rivers State (or any other state) and appoint a Sole Administrator (or any other substitute) like the 3rd Defendant (Ibas) for that state.
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