The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed against President Bola Tinubu challenging his March 18, 2025 proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

Abuja, October 2, 2025

The suit, brought by Belema Briggs and four others, was deemed frivolous and baseless by the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the case, as they did not suffer any personal legal injury from the emergency declaration. The court emphasized that only the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over such matters.
The judge noted that none of the five plaintiffs were members of the Rivers State Executive Council, the State House of Assembly, nor did they demonstrate that they experienced any harm beyond that of the general populace. Furthermore, the plaintiffs did not present any authorization from the Rivers State Attorney General to pursue the case.

Justice Omotosho also highlighted that President Tinubu’s justification for the emergency declaration—aimed at averting an imminent breakdown of law and order—was neither challenged nor disputed by the plaintiffs.
On claims of fundamental rights violations by the President, the court found these allegations unsubstantiated, as the invocation of the emergency powers was done in accordance with the law governing such situations to prevent a deteriorating security situation.

In conclusion, the court described the suit as frivolous and baseless, primarily because the plaintiffs failed to secure the mandate of the broader people of Rivers State before bringing the case on their behalf.
This ruling reaffirms the legal framework surrounding emergency proclamations in Nigeria and underscores the judiciary’s role in safeguarding constitutional processes.