A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has fixed May 12, 2025, for the substantive hearing of a suit filed by former federal lawmaker and governorship aspirant Dr. Farah Dagogo, challenging the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The suit, marked FHC/PH/CS/50/2025 and presided over by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, was filed against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; the Senate of the Federal Republic; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourabe Tajudeen Abass; and the recently appointed Sole Administrator for Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd).
Dagogo approached the court on April 9, seeking various reliefs over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of its democratic institutions.
Due to challenges in serving the defendants personally, the plaintiff’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) C. I. Enweluzo, filed a motion ex parte on April 8, requesting substituted service. Supporting affidavits were presented by Solomon Ayotamuno, a litigation assistant at Liberty Chambers.
After considering the motion and hearing arguments from counsels, including Femi Adegbite, Monday Dayi, Daso Jack, and D. Bakweri, Justice Mohammed granted the request.
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The court ordered that all originating summons and related documents be served via DHL to the last known addresses of the defendants.
These addresses include: President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, Senate President and Senate at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja Speaker of the House of Representatives at the National Assembly Complex, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.
President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending democratic governance for six months and appointing a Sole Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs. The move was later ratified by the National Assembly amidst public outcry and legal concerns.
