A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt will on Thursday, October 2, pass judgment on a suit filed by the expelled chairman and members of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission over their dismissal by the former Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas.
The claimants, Reverend Goodlife Iduoku Ben, Amadi Christian Echele, Chimenem Wisdom Jerome, and three others were previously appointed and sworn in by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. After the former Sole Administrator announced their dismissal and moved to replace them without following the proper procedures, they went to court to contest what they said was their unlawful removal.
The claimants contend that the Rivers State House of Assembly properly appointed and confirmed them, and that the Clerk of the House already had records of their confirmation before the governor issued letters of appointment.
The claimants maintained that the Sole Administrator lacked the legal right to suspend them and choose a new Chairman and members of the Local Government Service Commission in their affidavit, which was signed by Iduoku Ben, the suspended chairman.
In one of the proceedings, Justice Frank Onyiri, the presiding judge, directed that the status quo be maintained until the court’s decision was made and prohibited former Sole Administrator Ibas from inauguration of the newly confirmed Chairman and members of the Rivers State Service Commission.
Justice Onyiri asked for further time and postponed the case to Thursday, October 2, 2025, for judgement when it was brought up in court on Monday.
The suit’s defendants include the Accountant General, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, the previous Sole Administrator of the state (speaking on behalf of the state government), and eleven other people.
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