Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately relieve Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd) of his duties as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, citing a violation of presidential directives outlined in an official gazette.
Falana, in a statement issued on Thursday, accused Ibas of acting beyond his authority as provided in the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025, published in the Federal Government Gazette dated March 18, 2025.
The document, according to Falana, clearly states that the Sole Administrator’s actions must be guided by regulations to be issued by the President. However, he noted that no such regulations have been publicly issued by President Tinubu since the proclamation.
“Despite the absence of these regulations, the Sole Administrator has proceeded to make appointments and dismiss officials who were appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara,” Falana said. “This conduct is not only irregular but also undermines the authority of the president who appointed him.”
He stressed that the actions taken by Ibas amount to a clear disregard for presidential orders and further deepen the constitutional controversy surrounding the administrator’s role.
“To restore legality and public confidence, the president must urgently remove him from office,” Falana insisted.
Vice Admiral Ibas (rtd.) was sworn in by President Tinubu on March 19, a day after the federal government declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. The president also suspended the sitting governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing escalating political instability.
The decision was taken under the provisions of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the president to declare a state of emergency where public order and governance are threatened.
Meanwhile, the Ad-Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives handling issues related to Rivers State has summoned Ibas for a comprehensive briefing session in Abuja to clarify his actions since taking office.
