The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Rivers chapter, has asked President Bola Tinubu to caution Ibok-Ete Ibas, the state’s sole administrator, against acting beyond his mandate.
In a statement issued on Thursday by eight branches of the NBA in Rivers, the association said the sole administrator has been making political appointments with “military fiat without approval being sought from the national assembly or any known legal institution”.
The association said the actions of the sole administrator so far do not translate to seeking peace in the state.
The NBA chairpersons accused the sole administrator of “dismantling already established democratic institutions” and appointing replacements into offices without legal procedures.
“Since the above declaration, we have observed with shock and dismay that, rather than the peace-building effort that was promised by the President, tension has steadily escalated in Rivers state, arbitrariness and impunity have been displayed on a daily basis, and democratic institutions have been demobilized in a Gestapo, military style, and the legal provisions and judicial pronouncements flagrantly disregarded and treated with disdain,” the statement reads.
“Political appointments are being made by the sole administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, with military fiat, without approval being sought from the national assembly or any known legal institution for that matter.
“Accordingly, it is our view that the role of the sole administrator in the circumstance does not cover or extend to the steps already taken by the sole administrator in dismantling already established democratic institutions of the state which include boards, agencies, councils, commissions, and parastatals, and appointing replacements for the persons removed from the offices, which has been done by the sole administrator in gross violations of the laid-down procedures for the removal and appointment of such officers of the boards, agencies, councils, commissions, and parastatals in the state.”
The NBA chairpersons condemned the appointment of LGA coordinators by the sole administrator, adding that Ibas should stop escalating the tension in the state.
They noted that the sole administrator is expected to be “apolitical and not to conduct himself as a stooge of any of the parties in the political imbroglio”.
“We condemn the harassment, intimidation, and assault of peaceful protesters and journalists in the state by officers of the Nigerian Police, as they are in violation of their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” the NBA chairpersons said.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to take necessary steps to rein in the sole administration in Rivers state and ensure he keeps within the mandate given to him on his appointment to save Rivers state from further crisis.
“We also urge the presidency to do everything within its power in line with the rule of law to ensure the return of full democratic governance to the state on or before the 6-month tenure of the sole administrator.”
The statement was signed by Cordelia Eke, chairman of the Port Harcourt branch; Desmond-lhekaire, chairman of the Ahoada branch; Simple Dioha, chairman of the Isiokpo branch; Abiye Abo, chairman of the Degema branch; N.A. Duson, chairman of the Bori branch; C.N. Nwankwo, chairman of the Okehi branch; Tamunosiki Roberts, chairman of the Okrika branch; and Ekeledinichukwu Ordu, chairman of the Omoku branch.
Recently, the NBA clashed with the Rivers government, under the leadership of Ibas, over the payment of N300 million to the association by the Siminalayi Fubara-led administration for the 2025 annual general conference (AGC).
The state government said since NBA moved its conference from Port Harcourt in Rivers to Enugu, NBA should refunded the sum given for the hosting rights.
However, the legal body responded that the money was a “gift” to the association and not payment for the hosting rights of the conference.(The Cable)
