Tinubu acted like a dictator in Rivers crisis – Dagogo

DDM News

Legal representatives of Farah Dagogo, a former member of the National Assembly and 2023 gubernatorial aspirant in Rivers State, have declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acted unconstitutionally by suspending the elected executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State Government.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the development came during the resumed hearing of Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/50/2025 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Dagogo is contesting the legality of the federal government’s actions in the state.

The suit, originally filed in the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court, was later transferred to Abuja following a directive by the Attorney-General of the Federation to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

At the hearing, counsels to the first and fifth defendants—Prof. Kanyinsola Ajayi, SAN, and Abduljabar Aliyu—appeared before the court, while the third and fourth defendants were absent.

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, granted a request by the defense team for an extension of time to respond to the plaintiff’s submissions and adjourned the case to 9th July 2025.

Outside the courtroom, Babafemi Adegbite, a member of Dr. Dagogo’s legal team, addressed the press, stressing the constitutional breach.

“Dr. Farah Dagogo is challenging the constitutionality of the President’s actions in Rivers State,” Adegbite said.

“We are contesting the imposition of an administrator in a state governed by an elected administration.”

“The President lacks the constitutional power to suspend a democratically elected government and replace it with an unelected administrator,” he added.

Adegbite emphasized that the President’s declaration of a state of emergency on 18 March 2025, followed by the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Rivers State administrator, contravenes the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Dr. Dagogo subsequently filed a legal challenge on 9 April 2025, listing the President of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the appointed administrator as defendants.

The case, initially slated for hearing before Justice Turaki Mohammed in Port Harcourt on 26 May 2025, was reassigned to Abuja after a request from the Attorney-General of the Federation was approved by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

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