The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a suit filed against President Bola Tinubu over the March 2025 emergency rule declaration in Rivers State.
Justice James Omotosho, delivering judgment in the suit instituted by Belema Briggs and four others, held that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to challenge the president’s action.
Tinubu had in March declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly for six months. He later appointed a sole administrator to oversee the affairs of the state during the period.
The decision sparked outrage and multiple lawsuits, with more than 40 legal challenges reportedly filed against the emergency rule. The most prominent case is the Peoples Democratic Party’s suit before the Supreme Court.
In dismissing the present case, Justice Omotosho said the plaintiffs neither suffered any personal injury beyond that of the general public nor held positions within the state government that could justify their claim.
He further ruled that the plaintiffs did not obtain the consent of the Rivers State Attorney General before filing the suit, describing the action as “frivolous and baseless.”
The judge added that Tinubu’s justification for imposing emergency rule to avert a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State was not contested by the applicants.
President Tinubu had ended the emergency rule on September 18, 2025, announcing the restoration of democratic governance in the state.
