Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu - Politics

Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu - Politics - Nairaland

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Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by streetpaddy(op): 8:43pm On Oct 02, 2025

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a major lawsuit that sought to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State earlier this year. The ruling, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, effectively validated the presidential action against the legal challenge.

Dependable NG reports that the suit, which was instituted by Belema Briggs and four other plaintiffs, was dismissed primarily because the court found that the applicants lacked the locus standi (legal right) to institute the case. Justice Omotosho explained that none of the five plaintiffs were able to establish that they were members of the State Executive Council or the House of Assembly, nor could they prove that they suffered a unique injury greater than that of the general populace of Rivers State.

Furthermore, the court noted that the plaintiffs had not obtained the necessary approval, or fiat, from the Attorney General of the state to initiate the case on behalf of the residents. Justice Omotosho added a strong jurisdictional point, stating that the originating process ought not to have been filed in the Federal High Court at all, as the determination of the validity of a presidential proclamation of emergency is a matter that falls under the exclusive and original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

On the substantive issues, Justice Omotosho strongly supported the President’s justification for the emergency rule, noting that the claim that the intervention prevented a looming breakdown of law and order was undisputed by the plaintiffs. He ruled that the President acted under the appropriate Emergency Rule Order and that the allegations of a breach of fundamental rights could therefore not stand.

The court concluded that the case was frivolous and baseless, and that the proclamation of the state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State Assembly members were proper and in line with Section 305 of the Constitution, having been done to avert anarchy and chaos in the oil-rich state. The emergency, during which retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas served as Administrator, ran for six months until President Tinubu ended it on September 17, citing restored political cooperation and stability.

Following the judgment, legal counsel to the plaintiffs has indicated that the decision will be immediately challenged on appeal, ensuring that the critical constitutional questions surrounding presidential emergency powers will be tested at the higher courts.

https://dependable.ng/court-dismisses-suit-against-tinubu-on-rivers-emergency-rule/

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Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by Moroccoguy: 8:58pm On Oct 02, 2025

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm try as much as u can, don't let some people push u to the wall.

6 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by mrvitalis(m): 9:24pm On Oct 02, 2025

We await the, supreme Court ruling

Because Lagos go experience am

12 Likes

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by RISQUE: 9:25pm On Oct 02, 2025

mrvitalis:
We await the, supreme Court ruling

Because Lagos go experience am

Na Hausa man go be Sole Administrator for Lagos grin

31 Likes 1 Share

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by 1gbdata: 9:33pm On Oct 02, 2025

Naija

Na so we go take enter one chance

If things are not done normal today, tomorrow may be difficult

9 Likes

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by AK481(m): 9:33pm On Oct 02, 2025

Very useless and corupt judge .

See the judges wey Adc want allow to preside for 2027 election .

These people dont fear us

12 Likes

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by mrvitalis(m): 9:34pm On Oct 02, 2025

RISQUE:
Na Hausa man go be Sole Administrator for Lagos

For where? Na fubara we go put in charge. To conduct LGA election

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by helinues: 9:37pm On Oct 02, 2025

They are the same who claimed the judges have been bought by the government yet still expecting favouring judgement.

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Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by fredoooooo: 9:43pm On Oct 02, 2025

Carry ya case go heaven .. democracy and democrazy grin

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Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by SmartPolician: 9:54pm On Oct 02, 2025

AK481:
Very useless and corupt judge .

See the judges wey Adc want allow to preside for 2027 election .

These people dont fear us

This has nothing to do with corruption. The justice is right in his verdict. Stop focusing on the headline; read the content

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Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by Aprocco: 9:55pm On Oct 02, 2025

Do we still have a Judiciary?

E reach to ask. Abi how pesn go take explain Nigeria these days?

2 Likes

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by Helinuss: 10:09pm On Oct 02, 2025

Trust me...one hausa man go do am for lagos. Trust meet

3 Likes

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by RISQUE: 10:10pm On Oct 02, 2025

mrvitalis:
For where? Na fubara we go put in charge. To conduct LGA election

Fubara no go gree oooooo.. na to find another person.

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by OfficialP: 10:10pm On Oct 02, 2025

streetpaddy:
https://dependable.ng/court-dismisses-suit-against-tinubu-on-rivers-emergency-rule/

They intentionally waited for the SOE to be over before ruling. Can we ever get it right as a country

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Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by Chinjo2: 10:18pm On Oct 02, 2025

Which Nigerian Court do you think will ever rule against a sitting president? That can only happen in either America or UK

1 Like

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by 3seriez(m): 10:25pm On Oct 02, 2025

As usual, they will always use technicality to floor you. The issue of Justice and fairness is in the bottom of the dustbin.

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Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by Omalicious1: 10:41pm On Oct 02, 2025

streetpaddy:
https://dependable.ng/court-dismisses-suit-against-tinubu-on-rivers-emergency-rule/

What a shame!!!! There was a country

Ndhdhdhsjsjdjdkdk

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Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by Wisfem: 11:09pm On Oct 02, 2025

mrvitalis:
We await the, supreme Court ruling

Because Lagos go experience am

This is similar to the word, To pack the court, how such impunity will be highly glorified by this senseless bribe ridden Omotasho, Even the most lay man on earth knows that the president acted beyond his own jurisdictions, to pose such power to unilaterally remove an elected Governor, Tomorrow some one will rule, and Lagos his ATM, will experience this...

1 Like

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by timilehin007(m): 11:37pm On Oct 02, 2025

RISQUE:
Na Hausa man go be Sole Administrator for Lagos

Even if e go happen, it will never happen in your life time

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by timilehin007(m): 11:39pm On Oct 02, 2025

Helinuss:
Trust me...one hausa man go do am for lagos. Trust meet

Not in your life time sha..Buba Marwa ruled Lagos 1991 and we had no problem wit it.. so no qualms, so far if the other region no rule Lagos

1 Like

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by potent5(m): 11:39pm On Oct 02, 2025

What a misleading and biased analysis of the ruling. How can the ruling "effectively validate" the illegality perpetrated in Rivers state? What will the suit pending at the Supreme Court nullify or validate in the end?

streetpaddy:
https://dependable.ng/court-dismisses-suit-against-tinubu-on-rivers-emergency-rule/

1 Like

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by RISQUE: 12:32am On Oct 03, 2025

timilehin007:
Even if e go happen, it will never happen in your life time

It will never happen in your lifetimeeeeeeeeeeee

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by fergie001(mod): 12:46am On Oct 03, 2025

Chinjo2:
Which Nigerian Court do you think will ever rule against a sitting president? That can only happen in either America or UK

This is not true, when we had Judges, they wanted to sit on this kind of cases.

Constitutional matters is what defines the Supreme Court. In the past, when the Court had 11 or 12 Judges, they were always complaining of been over-laboured. Now, for the first time in the history of the country, we have a full bench of 23, yet could not rule in a severe Constitutional suit for 162 days. It is a failure of this Supreme Court and especially the CJN Kekere-Ekun; history will remember her for that.

Was it not under democracy:-

1. We had Lagos Govt defeat the FG on Lagos LG Allocation?

2. We had Atiku defeat INEC and the President?

3. We had Atiku reinstated as VP despite feud with the President?

4. Even under the ordinarily "lawless" Buhari, the State Govts defeated the FG and EO10 was shot down?

5. 3 Supreme Court Judges will vote against the election of a Sitting President? 2 of those later became CJNs.

This Judge has a penchant for controversies as seen in majority of rulings amid several levels of accusations however this judgement is trite and the right one. It is the responsibility of the SC and they ran away from it, shameful. tongue

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Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by bentenny(m): 3:58am On Oct 03, 2025

Why is it taking more than 6 months for the supreme court to give a judgement about the president's action?
No need to bother about the lower courts!
I already know that the lower courts have been bought over and I wanted to officially confirm that of the supreme court!

1 Like

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by hotseat: 6:27am On Oct 03, 2025

The problem with most people is that once they read the headlines, they simply jump into conclusion.

That's intellectual laziness, if you ask me.

Before taking a matter before a law court, be sure to have a watertight, iron cast and unassailable case otherwise be sure that your case would be thrown out.

Judges and law courts are no father Christmas who would just gift you a case.

At a point, even the plaintiffs agreed with Justice Omotosho that the President acted in good faith to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the State.

Law doesn't work on emotions, sentiments or lamentations but, purely on the facts of law brought before a judge.

@hotseat

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by tishbite41(m): 7:52am On Oct 03, 2025*

timilehin007:
Not in your life time sha..Buba Marwa ruled Lagos 1991 and we had no problem wit it.. so no qualms, so far if the other region no rule Lagos

The other region?!
We don rule Lagos tire!
Ask Ebitu Ukiwe and Ndubuisi Kanu

Re: Rivers Emergency Rule: Court Dismisses Suit Against Tinubu by MightySparrow: 8:04am On Oct 03, 2025

Moroccoguy:
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm try as much as u can, don't let some people push u to the wall.

The lawyers (liars) are cashing out with mugus' hard earned money.

Tinubu did not act out of constitutional provisions. Obasanjo did same in Ekiti heaven did not fall. State of emergency was effected in the Old Western Region, nothing happened.

The challengers are just comedians dancing azonto in the front of clowns.

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