A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an order restraining the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed Chairman and members of the Rivers State Services Commission.
Justice Frank Onyiri gave the directive on Monday, ordering all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit filed by the commission’s suspended members. The case has been adjourned to September 29 for judgment.
The court’s decision followed final written addresses by parties in the suit instituted by Reverend Goodlife Iduoku Ben, Amadi Christian Echele, Chimenem Wisdom Jerome, and three others—previously appointed and confirmed members of the commission under suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The claimants are challenging their removal by Ibas, describing it as illegal. In their affidavit, signed by the suspended Chairman Ben, they argued that the Sole Administrator lacked the legal authority to suspend them or appoint new members.
“The claimants were legally appointed and confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the affidavit stated, adding that their confirmation records were with the Clerk of the House before they received their appointment letters from the governor.
The defendants in the suit include Sole Administrator Ibas, the state’s Accountant General, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, and 11 others.
Justice Onyiri’s ruling temporarily halts any further action on the commission’s composition until the court delivers its final judgment. The case highlights the ongoing legal and administrative disputes in Rivers State following the suspension of Governor Fubara.
The suspended members maintain that due process was not followed in their removal, insisting that only a properly constituted government—not a Sole Administrator—has the legal mandate to make such appointments or dismissals.
