Court bars Rivers sole administrator from swearing in appointees

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an order restraining Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (rtd), the Sole Administrator of the state, from inaugurating the newly appointed Chairman and members of the Rivers State Services Commission.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Frank Onyiri following the adoption of final written addresses in a legal dispute brought before the court by members of the commission who were appointed by the suspended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

The aggrieved commission members are challenging their removal by the sole administrator, describing the action as unlawful and unconstitutional. They are seeking judicial redress, arguing that their suspension violated due process.

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Onyiri, after handing the order on Monday, 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 new chairman and members of the commission.

Meanwhile, the defendants in the suits are the Sole Administrator Ibas, the accountant general of the state, Access Bank, Zenith Bank and 11 others.