IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
Rivers State Government Defies Court Order, Appoints 23 LGA Administrators
Despite a subsisting court order, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has appointed administrators for all 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
The announcement, issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, also confirmed the reconstitution of boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals that had earlier been suspended. All appointments took effect from Monday, April 7, 2025.
In a government special announcement released on Tuesday, Prof. Worika stated:
“His Excellency, The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of Administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. He has also approved the reconstitution of some Boards of Agencies, Commissions, and Parastatals, earlier suspended. All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”
However, this move has sparked controversy as it directly contravenes a court order. A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had issued an interim injunction restraining the Sole Administrator from making such appointments. The order was granted by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed following a suit filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by rights advocate Courage Nsirimovu.
The matter is scheduled for hearing on April 14, 2025.
Legal analysts say the Administrator’s decision to proceed with the appointments in defiance of the court order could spark a constitutional crisis in the state. Opposition figures and civil society groups have called for adherence to the rule of law, urging the Administrator to respect the ongoing judicial process.
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