By Merciful Omoba
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a suit filed against President Bola Tinubu challenging the emergency rule declared in Rivers State on March 18, 2025.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the five plaintiffs, led by Belema Briggs, lacked the legal capacity to institute the action.
President Tinubu had declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly. A sole administrator was appointed to oversee the state during the period.
Dissatisfied, the plaintiffs approached the court. However, Justice Omotosho ruled that the president acted within the law, noting that the plaintiffs failed to dispute the claim that the emergency was declared to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The judge also dismissed their argument of a breach of fundamental rights, stressing that the constitutional provisions on emergency powers were properly invoked.
He described the case as frivolous and baseless, pointing out that the plaintiffs neither represented the mandate of the people of Rivers State nor obtained the consent of the state’s Attorney General to sue on their behalf.
Justice Omotosho further observed that none of the plaintiffs claimed to be members of the State Executive Council or House of Assembly, or to have suffered any injury beyond that of the general populace.
On September 18, 2025, President Tinubu announced the end of the emergency rule, disclosing that more than 40 lawsuits had been filed against the declaration, including one by the Peoples Democratic Party now before the Supreme Court.
