Ex-Lawmaker Takes Tinubu, Akpabio, Others to Court Over Emergency Rule in Rivers
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has set May 12, 2025, for a substantive hearing in a lawsuit filed by Dr. Farah Dagogo, a former member of the House of Representatives, challenging the suspension of Rivers State’s governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly.
To ensure that the defendants receive court documents despite difficulties in personal service, the court granted an order for substituted service.
The case, with the reference number FHC/PH/CS/50/2025, is being heard before Hon. Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed. Dr. Dagogo, who had been a gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections, filed the lawsuit on April 9, 2025, seeking legal relief over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Named as defendants in the suit are President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate of the Federal Republic, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Tajudeen Abass, and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), the Sole Administrator for Rivers State.
On April 8, 2025, Dr. Dagogo’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) C. I. Enweluzo, filed an ex parte motion requesting permission for substituted service due to challenges in personally serving the defendants.
After reviewing the affidavit submitted by Solomon Ayotamuno, a litigation assistant at Liberty Chambers, and hearing arguments from the Plaintiff’s counsel, including Femi Adegbite Esq., Monday Dayi Esq., Daso Jack, and D. Bakweri Esq., Justice Adamu Mohammed granted the request. The judge ordered that all relevant court documents be sent to the defendants via DHL courier service to their last known addresses. The case was then adjourned for a substantive hearing on May 12, 2025.
In the motion, Dr. Dagogo’s legal team contested the state of emergency declared by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025, which imposed a six-month suspension on democratic governance in Rivers State due to what the president described as a prolonged political crisis.
