The sole administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas may go to jail if opinions in judicial circles concerning his appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the State and reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, despite court injunction, are anything to go by.
Recall a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt barred the sole administrator from appointing sole administrators for the LGAs.
The order was issued April 8, 2025 by the Justice, Adamu Turaki Muhammed in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 in the case filed by Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative and its Coordinator, Courage Nsirimovu, who is seeking to restrain the Rivers State Administrator, his agents, or anyone acting on his behalf or under his authority, from appointing Sole Administrators (or any similar designation) for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
However, the sole administrator reportedly approved the appointments of the LGA administrators.
He also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the state Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika,on Tuesday, all appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.
Speaking on the development, a Port Harcourt based legal Practitioner, Dolapo Tella Attoni, said, ”The Sole Administrator does not enjoy immunity of any kind. Consequently, contempt proceedings may be commenced against him if found to be in disobedience of orders issued by the court”.
