A legal challenge against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s controversial decision to release Rivers State funds to the military-appointed sole administrator has taken an unexpected turn. The case, initially filed and heard in the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, has suddenly been transferred to the Federal High Court in Abuja — a move that has sparked criticism over its opaque handling.
The lawsuit, registered as FHC/PHC/43/2025, was brought forward by The Incorporated Trustees of the Rivers Bridge Peace Initiative, a civil society group based in Rivers State and led by Rufus Oba. Represented by local lawyer Clifford N. Chuku, the group contends that President Tinubu’s decision violates a Supreme Court ruling regarding the management of state finances.
Originally assigned to Justice A.T. Mohammed at the Port Harcourt Federal High Court, the case’s transfer to Abuja was communicated informally by a court clerk — without any official documentation or clear explanation. “No reasons were given, and we have not received any formal notification,” Oba revealed. Moreover, no specific court in Abuja has yet been designated to hear the matter.
The next scheduled hearing, initially set for Port Harcourt, is now to take place in Abuja on Monday, May 26, 2025. However, no official hearing notice has been issued to confirm whether the session will proceed as planned.
At the heart of the lawsuit is the claim that the disbursement of Rivers State funds to Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd.), appointed as sole administrator during the political crisis in the state, is unconstitutional. The plaintiffs argue that only an elected governor with an approved budget from the Rivers State House of Assembly can lawfully receive and manage state funds.
Defendants named in the suit include President Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Accountant General, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Vice Admiral Ibas.
The legal teams on the defendants’ side are formidable. Vice Admiral Ibas is defended by a powerhouse of 21 lawyers, including multiple Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) such as Chief Akin Olujinmi and Kehinde Ogunwumiju. The CBN has also engaged a high-profile team led by SANs Sam T. Ologunorisa and Moses A. Ebute.
The sudden transfer of the case to Abuja has raised pressing questions about judicial transparency, potential forum shopping, and the challenge of ensuring justice for local plaintiffs confronting the federal government and its representatives.
Observers are now framing the legal dispute as a David versus Goliath battle, escalating from a local matter to one of national significance. Meanwhile, uncertainty looms as no Abuja court is officially assigned, and no formal hearing notice has been issued as the case awaits its next phase.
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