Babatunji Wusu –
- Court rejects bid to restrain National Assembly from approving Rivers State 2025 budget.
- Judge rules the challenged action—the budget’s approval—has already been completed.
- Emergency rule declared by President Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara and appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator.
- Senate assumed legislative functions and approved the budget and key appointments.
- Plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the emergency rule and budget approval.
- Court adjourns substantive suit hearing to 20 October.
- Emergency declaration criticized for undermining democratic institutions in Rivers State.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a motion seeking to prevent the National Assembly from approving the Rivers State 2025 budget under the current sole administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
In his ruling on Friday, Judge James Omotosho held that the court could not grant the requested injunction because the budget had already been approved by the Senate on 25 June, rendering the requested relief moot.
This legal dispute follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month emergency rule in Rivers State on 18 March, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials, while appointing Mr. Ibas as sole administrator. The Senate took over the state’s legislative duties and ratified the 2025 budget alongside several key appointments.
The plaintiffs—a group of Rivers State indigenes including community leaders and the Hope Africa Foundation—sought to restrain the National Assembly from engaging in legislative activities related to Rivers State, arguing that the emergency rule and subsequent legislative actions were unconstitutional. They contend that the emergency declaration lacked the constitutionally required two-thirds majority vote in the Senate.
During the 10 July hearing, the plaintiffs’ counsel argued for the invalidation of the budget approval, while the National Assembly’s representative maintained that all procedures were lawful and warned that halting the budget would disrupt governance.
Judge Omotosho noted that the main action targeted—the budget approval—had already taken place and dismissed the application, directing that the substantive suit addressing broader constitutional issues proceed. The court scheduled the main suit hearing for 20 October.
The emergency rule in Rivers State has been controversial, criticized for weakening democratic governance amid political rivalry and escalating violence within the state.
