The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has scheduled May 21, 2025, to commence hearing on a suit filed by Belema Briggs and others against President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, and the Nigerian Navy.
The plaintiffs are seeking a judicial interpretation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), specifically Sections 1, 4, 5, 11, 180, 188, and 305.
They are asking the court to determine whether, under these provisions, President Tinubu has the constitutional authority to suspend an elected executive arm of government in Rivers State, which is constitutionally guaranteed a four-year tenure.
The plaintiffs are challenging the declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025, which resulted in the suspension of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
They contend that such actions may constitute a flagrant violation of the constitutional provisions listed above.
