The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has ordered the transfer of all court cases challenging the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State from the Port Harcourt Division to the Abuja Division.
The decision follows a formal request by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and is based on Order 49, Rule 2 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019. The rule permits such transfers in the interest of administrative convenience or security concerns.
The transferred suits include several high-profile challenges to President Bola Tinubu’s March 18, 2025, declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State Assembly.
Some of the affected cases include:
- Dr. Farah Dagogo v. President & 4 others
- Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative & Another v. The Administrator
- Incorporated Trustee of Rivsbridge Peace v. President & others
- Incorporated Trustee of People’s Life Improvement Foundation & others v. President & 2 others
- Belema Briggs & others v. President & others
- Samuel T. O. Amatonje Esq v. President & others
The Chief Judge’s directive has raised questions about the status of proceedings that had already commenced in Port Harcourt. Legal analysts say it remains to be seen whether those proceedings will continue from where they left off or be restarted in Abuja.
This development comes amid heightened political and legal tensions in Rivers State, with multiple interest groups seeking clarity on the legality and implications of the emergency rule.
