TheNigeriaLawyer editorial will refer to Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas as ‘Unconstitutional’ until the Tinubu administration reverses its unconstitutional assault on Nigeria’s democracy by suspending elected officials, including the Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/NBBSPIDEL.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
Despite a recent court order, The Unconstitutional Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
The development comes less than 24 hours after the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt issued an order for Ibas to “show cause” why he should not be restrained from making such appointments. The court’s directive was part of a motion filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu, in suit no. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025.
On Tuesday, April 7, 2025, Justice Adamu Turaki Muhammed, presiding over the case, ordered that Ibas be notified and given an opportunity to explain why the application to prevent the appointments should not be granted. The hearing is set for April 14, 2025.
However, despite the court’s ruling, Ibas went ahead with the approval of the new administrators for the local councils. He also reconstituted several boards of state agencies, commissions, and parastatals that had previously been suspended.
This announcement was made in a Special Government Bulletin issued on Wednesday morning by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika. While the names of the new appointees were not disclosed, the statement confirmed that the appointments take immediate effect.
The statement read, “His Excellency, The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, which had earlier been suspended. All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”
The move follows Ibas’s earlier suspension of all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state last week.
In a separate action, Ibas also announced the cancellation of all pending procurement and tender processes conducted by the MDAs. He explained that the cancellation was necessary due to the recent Supreme Court judgment and the absence of an appropriation law during this period.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/LGA-Administrators-Reconstitutes-Boards.pdf” title=”LGA Administrators & Reconstitutes Boards”]
According to a previous statement issued by the SSG, Ibas directed that all MDAs that had carried out tender processes should immediately refund any fees collected from contractors.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
