The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed against President Bola Tinubu, which challenged his March 18, 2025, declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the five plaintiffs, led by Belema Briggs, lacked the legal standing to bring the case.
In March, President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Subsequently, Tinubu appointed a sole administrator to manage the state’s affairs during the emergency period.
The plaintiffs, aggrieved by these actions, approached the court seeking to overturn the declaration.
On September 18, 2025, President Tinubu announced the end of the emergency rule. He also revealed that over 40 lawsuits had been filed against the declaration, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s suit before the Supreme Court being the most prominent.
Justice Omotosho noted that the plaintiffs did not dispute the claim that the emergency was declared to avert a potential breakdown of law and order in Rivers State.
He ruled that the plaintiffs’ allegation of a breach of fundamental rights was unfounded, as the president had appropriately invoked the legal provisions governing emergency rule to prevent an undesirable situation.
Describing the suit as frivolous and baseless, Justice Omotosho emphasized that the plaintiffs did not have a mandate from the people of Rivers State to institute the case on their behalf.
The court further observed that none of the plaintiffs claimed membership in the State Executive Committee, the House of Assembly, or that they suffered any special injury beyond that of the general public.
Additionally, the court pointed out that none of the plaintiffs obtained the Attorney General’s consent, which is required to initiate such a case.
