A high court in Rivers State has issued a restraining order against Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, preventing him from inaugurating newly appointed members of the State Services Commission pending the resolution of a legal dispute over the legitimacy of their appointment.
The order, issued by Justice Frank Onyiri on Monday, came after the court heard final written arguments in a case brought by the previously appointed Chairman and members of the Commission.
These individuals were appointed by the suspended Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and claim they were unlawfully removed by Ibas without following due process.
Justice Onyiri ordered all parties to maintain the status quo and adjourned the case to September 29 for judgment.
The plaintiffs—Reverend Goodlife Iduoku Ben (former chairman), Amadi Christian Echele, Chimenem Wisdom Jerome, and three others—are challenging their suspension, arguing that their appointments were duly confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and formalized by letters from the Governor.
According to the claimants, there was an official record of their confirmation with the Clerk of the Assembly, giving their appointments full legal standing.
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They assert that the Sole Administrator lacks the constitutional authority to remove or replace them.
In a sworn affidavit, Ben stated that their dismissal by Ibas was illegal and politically motivated.
The suit also names the Rivers State Accountant General, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, and 11 others as co-defendants in the matter.
The development has added another layer of tension to the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, as concerns mount over the legality of the Sole Administrator’s recent decisions and the broader implications for state governance.
Public reaction has been mixed, with civil society groups urging the judiciary to ensure fairness and uphold democratic principles amid what many see as a deepening constitutional crisis.