The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday dismissed a suit instituted against President Bola Tinubu challenging the March 18, 2025, emergency rule declaration in Rivers State.
Justice James Omotosho, while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Belema Briggs and four others against the declaration, held that the five plaintiffs lacked the legal power to institute the case.
Tinubu, in March, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
Following the suspension, Tinubu appointed a sole administrator who took charge of running the affairs of the state for the period.
Aggrieved by the president’s actions, the plaintiffs dragged him to court.
Meanwhile, on September 18, 2025, the president announced the end of the emergency rule.
He also disclosed in a statement that over 40 lawsuits had been filed to challenge the declaration in the state, the most notable being the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s suit before the Supreme Court.
Justice Omotosho further held that the claim that Tinubu imposed the state of emergency to avert a looming breakdown of law and order was neither challenged nor disputed by the plaintiffs.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs’ contention of breach of fundamental rights by the president did not hold water because the appropriate law on emergency rule was invoked by Tinubu to prevent an unpleasant situation.
He described the case as frivolous and baseless, stating that the mandate of the people of Rivers State was not obtained before it was instituted on their behalf.
He further held that none of the five plaintiffs claimed to be members of the State Executive Committee, members of the House of Assembly, or to have suffered any injury greater than that of the general populace of Rivers State.
The court also noted that none of the plaintiffs claimed to have obtained the fiat of the Attorney General of the state to initiate the case.
