Tinubu’s Sole Administrator in Rivers Defies Court Order, Appoints LG Administrators

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has appointed administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state—less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt reportedly barred him from doing so.

Ibas, appointed by President Bola Tinubu last month, also approved the reconstitution of boards for various state agencies, commissions, and parastatals that were previously suspended.

The appointments and approvals were announced on Wednesday via a Special Government Announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika. According to the statement, the appointments take immediate effect from Monday, April 7, 2025.

Among those appointed are Mr Okroiyobi Animete for Abua/Odual LG, Mr Goodluck M. Iheanacho for Ahoada East, and Mr Promise Jacob for Ahoada West, among others across the 23 LGAs.

This decision directly defies an interim order issued Tuesday by Justice Adam Muhammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt in suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025. The PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative filed the suit, led by civic advocate Courage Msirimovu, challenging the legality of the appointments.

In related developments, Ibas has also cancelled all pending procurement and tender processes carried out by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), citing the lack of an appropriation law during the period. He ordered all MDAs to refund fees collected from contractors for the cancelled processes.

Last week, the administrator suspended all heads of MDAs across the state, further consolidating his control over the state’s administrative structure.

Recall that the Nigerian National Assembly approved President Bola Tinubu’s emergency declaration in Rivers State, transferring control of the state’s ₦1.176 trillion budget from elected Governor Siminalayi Fubara to a federally appointed administrator.

Ibas, a retired military officer, will oversee the state for six months. He will manage the 2025 budget, which includes ₦559.1 billion from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). This translates to an average monthly revenue of ₦46.5 billion.

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