Tuesday, July 15, 2025 - A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has barred the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, rtd, from inaugurating the newly appointed and confirmed Chairman and members of Rivers State Services Commission.
The court asked the state to hold off on the inauguration of
its appointees pending the determination of a suit instituted before it
regarding the said appointments.
The presiding Judge, Justice Frank Onyiri, issued the order
on Monday, July 14, after parties addressed and adopted their final written
addresses on the suit by Chairman and members of Rivers State Services
Commission appointed by the suspended governor of the state, Sir Siminalayi
Fubara.
The aggrieved sacked members of the commission had sought
redress in court, challenging their suspension by Ibas.
After handing the order on Monday, July 14, Onyiri ordered
parties in the matter to maintain status quo and adjourned till September 29
for judgment.
However, the claimants, Reverend Goodlife Iduoku Ben, Amadi
Christian Echele, Chimenem Wisdom Jerome and three others are challenging what
they described as their illegal sack by the Sole Administrator.
They are arguing that Ibas removed them from office without
due process, adding that the Sole Administrator has no legal backing to remove
them from office.
The claimants are contending that they were legally
appointed and confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and that before
they were issued letters of appointment by the Governor, a record of their
confirmation was with the Clerk of the House.
According to their affidavit signed by the suspended
Chairman Goodlife Iduoku Ben, the claimants are insisting that the sole
administrator lacked the legal powers to suspend them and appoint a new
chairman and members of the commission.
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