Politics
Emergency rule: Ex-lawmaker, Dagogo drags Tinubu, Akpabio, others to court
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has scheduled May 12, 2025, for the substantive hearing in a suit filed by former federal lawmaker, Farah Dagogo, challenging the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Listed as defendants in the suit are President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Nigerian Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
At the hearing of a motion ex parte, counsel to the plaintiff, C. I. Enweluzo, SAN, sought leave of the court for substituted service of the originating summons and related court processes, citing difficulties in effecting personal service on the defendants.
The court granted the request.
Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, after reviewing an affidavit deposed to by Solomon Ayotamuno, a litigation assistant at Liberty Chambers, and listening to submissions from the plaintiff’s legal team, Femi Adegbite, Monday Dayi, Daso Jack, and D. Bakweri, granted the application for substituted service.
The court also ordered that hearing notices and other relevant court documents be served on the defendants via DHL courier service to their last known addresses, including: Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Asokoro, Abuja; the Senate, National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja and Rivers State Government House, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending democratic governance for an initial period of six months.
The president also suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly, appointing Ibas as sole administrator.
The action, subsequently ratified by the National Assembly, has sparked widespread criticism from political leaders, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, civil society organizations, and other interest groups.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that he’s still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike’s comment followed his expulsion from the party by the faction led by National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki.
Turaki had formally dispatched expulsion certificates to 11 prominent party chieftains, including Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Kamarudeen Ajibade, SAN, Abdurahman Muhammad Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
He said their expulsion was aimed at sanitising the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Wike dismissed the claim while assuring that he would continue to work with other party members in making PDP a relevant opposition party.
The minister spoke while addressing journalists after inspecting the Interchange bridge and road linking Gwarinpa with Jahi and direct to Katampe, Gishiri and Maitama.
He said, “Those that are factionalized are bound to leave the party, I’m still in PDP and you can see that not everybody has left.
“We still have good numbers and we will continue to work together and that’s what I have said to the party. Put your house in order because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that is losing.
“So those who are worried, we can work together to see how the party can remain a relevant opposition.”
The governments of Abia and Imo States have announced the launching of a joint security taskforce and surveillance along the Aba-Owerri expressway, starting from Owerrinta in Abia State all the way to Owerri, Imo State.
The launch followed recent attacks by criminals on the expressway, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The formation of the joint security taskforce and surveillance was announced by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity.
His statement read in part: “Arising from a strategic emergency security meeting held today, 4th December, 2025, by the Governors of Abia and Imo Sates at the Imo State Government Owerri House, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti and His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma resolved to set up a joint security Taskforce that shall consist of Soldiers, Naval Personnel, Police Officers , DSS Personnel, and other Government Security Agencies.
“The joint security Taskforce shall, starting from tomorrow 5th December 2025, patrol the road 24 hours nonstop, while carrying out massive surveillance in the surrounding bushes using sophisticated drones and other modern security equipment.”
According to the statement, Governor Alex Otti commended the Governor of Imo State for arresting the criminals who carried out an attack on His advanced team and other passengers a few days ago.
“The two Governors, while assuring citizens plying the road on a daily basis and those returning home for Christmas of their safety and security, warn that there would be severe consequences for any criminal caught on the road going forward”, Ekeoma concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.
Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.
The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
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