Femi Falana Calls for Removal of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as Rivers State Administrator

On Apr 18, 2025

Human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, SAN has called for the removal of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd), as Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

Falana predicated his call on the grounds that Ibas violated the regulations guiding his appointment as Sole Administrator when he unilaterally made some recent appointments and sacking of some state’s officials without deferring to the president.

Citing the Proclamation of State of Emergency in Rivers State document, Falanaobserved that Tinubu to the best of his knowledge has not issued any regulation guiding Ibas operation as sole administrator.

“In the above federal government Gazette, President Bola Tinubu stated very clearly that the Sole Administrator “shall operate on the basis of such Regulations that may, from time to time, be issued by me”, the senior lawyer said.

“It is common knowledge that President Bola Tinubu has not issued any Regulation for the operation of the Sole Administrator.

“But, the Sole Administrator has made appointments and removed officials appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara”, he added.

Falana submitted that by treating the orders of President Bola Tinubu with contempt, “the Sole Administrator has compounded the illegality of his appointment.

“The Sole Administrator ought to be removed without any further delay”.

Recall that President Tinubu had on March 18 declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, citing “a clear and present danger of an imminent breakdown of public order and public safety in Rivers State of Nigeria, which require extraordinary measures to avert such danger”.

According to the proclamation document the president had claimed that there was a clear and present danger of the looming crisis in Rivers State which, if left unchecked, could degenerate, leading to massive loss of lives and property in the State.

“Whereas, extraordinary measures are required to restore good governance, peace, security and order in Rivers State:

“Now therefore in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, hereby make the following Proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State:

“As from the commencement of this Proclamation, a State of Emergency is hereby declared in Rivers State (in the Proclamation referred to as “the State”).

Suspension of the Offices of the Governor, his deputy and elected members of the State House of Assembly

“As from the commencement of this Proclamation, the Offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor and State House of Assembly are here suspended.

“The State shall for the duration of the emergency, be administered by Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd), as Administrator, who shall operate on the basis of such Regulations that may, from time to time, be issued by me”, the document read in part.

Alex Enumah and Wale Igbintade