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Court dismisses suit seeking refund of Rivers funds spent by Sole Administrator Ibas

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Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit seeking the refund of public funds allegedly spent by retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers State, ruling that it lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho held that the subject of the case — stemming from a presidential declaration of a state of emergency — falls squarely within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

> “Only the Supreme Court can determine the legality of a presidential proclamation of a state of emergency,” the judge ruled.

“This court, by law, lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the claims brought before it.”

The suit, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Rivsbridge Peace Initiative, had asked the court to compel the Federal Government and other parties — including the President, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Vice Admiral Ibas — to refund all Rivers State funds expended since the emergency rule took effect in March 2025.

*Judge criticises plaintiff’s legal approach*

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Justice Omotosho did not hold back in criticising the claimant’s legal team for bringing the case before the wrong court.

> “Counsel to the claimant ought to have done proper research before initiating this suit,” he said.

“Filing matters that are void from the outset wastes valuable judicial time and undermines the justice system.”

He added that the judiciary was already burdened with numerous commercial, civil, and criminal matters, warning against frivolous filings.

> “A void process cannot activate the jurisdiction of this court,” he added. “This action is dead on arrival.”

*No Transfer, No Merit*

The plaintiff’s request to have the case transferred to the Port Harcourt division was also denied. Justice Omotosho explained that federal high courts are only permitted to transfer cases to other divisions with valid subject matter jurisdiction.

> “Transferring the case to a division that also lacks jurisdiction is an exercise in futility,” he said.

“The proper course is to strike out the case in its entirety.”

*Second suit on LGA appointments also dismissed*

In a related ruling, the court also struck out another suit — FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 — which challenged Ibas’s authority to appoint sole administrators for all 23 local government areas in Rivers State.

Again, the judge sided with Ibas’ legal counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), who argued that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi (the legal right) to institute the case.

> “The applicants are merely concerned citizens, not suspended officials or directly affected parties,” the judge said.

“Without the consent of the sole administrator being obtained and attached, this suit has no legs to stand on.”

*Third suit challenging suspension of Gov. Fubara also fails

Justice Omotosho had earlier dismissed another suit that questioned the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, also stemming from the emergency declaration in Rivers.

The suit — FHC/PH/CS/51/2025, filed by a group of individuals claiming to represent Rivers residents — had sought to invalidate the president’s actions, including the appointment of a sole administrator and the removal of elected officials.

Once again, the court held that such matters fall outside the purview of the Federal High Court.

*Background: Who Was Sued?*

In the lead case (FHC/PH/CS/43/2025), the following were listed as defendants:

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The Federal Republic of Nigeria

The Attorney-General of the Federation

The Accountant-General of the Federation

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas

The plaintiffs had argued that funds from Rivers’ Consolidated Revenue Fund were expended illegally, violating sections 120, 121, and 287(1) of the Constitution, and defying Supreme Court orders related to the Rivers political crisis.

But the court rejected all claims and dismissed the suits as lacking merit and legal standing.

> “This court cannot usurp powers granted to the Supreme Court,” Justice Omotosho concluded.

“The suits are hereby dismissed in their entirety.”

NAN

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Another child dumped at Pastor Chibuzor’s gate in Rivers

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Chibuzo Chinyere
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A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.

According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.

The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.

He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.

Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.

He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.

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OAU medical student collapses, dies before final exam

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Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.

Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.

The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.

The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.

While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”

“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”

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Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.

“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.

“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.

“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”

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Misdemeanor: Senator Jim Nwobodo’s wife, Patricia loses at Enugu Magistrate Court

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Father remanded in prison for alleged sexual assault of 7-year-old daughter
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..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her

An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
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The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
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The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
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The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
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The four- count charge levelled against them read:
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“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
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Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
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Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
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Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
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Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
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“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
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The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
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The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.

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