A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has set May 12, 2025, for the substantive hearing of a lawsuit filed by former National and State Assembly Member, Dr. Farah Dagogo, seeking the nullification of the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Dagogo, who was a Governorship Aspirant in the 2023 elections, filed the suit on April 9, 2025, challenging the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The suit also names the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate of the Federal Republic, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), the appointed Sole Administrator for Rivers State, as defendants.
On April 8, 2025, Dagogo’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) C.I. Enweluzo, requested the court to grant permission for substituted service of the originating summons and other related court documents. This was necessary due to difficulties in serving the defendants personally.
Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, after reviewing the affidavit sworn by Solomon Ayotamuno, a litigation assistant at Liberty Chambers, and hearing arguments from Dagogo’s counsel, granted the application. The court further directed that a hearing notice be issued and adjourned the case to May 12, 2025, for substantive hearing.
The court ordered that all relevant court documents be served on the Defendants through DHL courier service to their last known addresses.
President Tinubu proclaimed the State of Emergency in Rivers State on March 18th, 2025, imposing a six-month suspension of democratic governance. He further appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator of the state. The National Assembly subsequently ratified the President’s action in controversial circumstances.
