Prominent Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged the Federal Government to immediately dismiss the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, alleging a violation of constitutional protocol and a disregard for the directives of President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement made available on Thursday, Falana pointed to the official Federal Government Gazette, which stipulated the operational guidelines for the Sole Administrator.
The gazette document quoted President Bola Tinubu as stating, “the Sole Administrator shall operate on the basis of such Regulations that may, from time to time, be issued by me.”
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However, Falana asserted that “it is common knowledge that President Bola Tinubu has not issued any Regulation for the operation of the Sole Administrator.”
Notwithstanding the absence of these regulations, the appointed Sole Administrator has reportedly proceeded with appointments and the removal of officials previously appointed by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
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Falana described these actions as unlawful, stating, “By treating the orders of President Bola Tinubu with contempt, the Sole Administrator has compounded the illegality of his appointment. The Sole Administrator ought to be removed without any further delay.”
The Senior Advocate’s statement arises amidst an ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, where the legality of significant appointments and the distribution of authority between the state and federal levels remain subjects of considerable public and political discourse.
