A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Farah Dagogo has dragged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Senate President to court over the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State Assembly Members.
In the case with Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/50/2025, and before Honourable Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, the plaintiff, Farah Dagogo, who was a governorship Aspirant in the 2023 elections,
President Tinubu had on March 18th, 2025 proclaimed a State Of Emergency in Rivers State with an initial six-month suspension of democratic governance, appointing an Administrator to govern the state.
Dagogo, had approached the court, seeking reliefs over the Declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State and consequent suspension of the State Governor and Members of the State House of Assembly.
In the suit, which involves Tinubu, Akpabio also has the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), the recently installed Sole Administrator for Rivers State.
The court has fixed May 12, 2025 for substantive hearing in the suit, granting an order for substituted services to forestall difficulties in serving the defendants personally.
In the motion ex parte filed on April 8, 2025, the Plaintiff’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), C. I. Enweluzo, prayed the court to grant permission for substituted service of the originating summons and other related Court Processes following difficulties in serving the Defendants personally.
Justice Mohammed, after reviewing the affidavit sworn by Solomon Ayotamuno, a litigation assistant at Liberty Chambers, and hearing arguments from the Plaintiff’s counsel—including Femi Adegbite Esq., Monday. Dayi Esq., Daso Jack, and D. Bakweri Esq.—granted the application.
He also directed that a hearing notice be issued, and the case adjourned to May 12, 2025, for substantive hearing, ordering that all relevant court documents be served on the Defendants through DHL courier service to their last known addresses of the President, Senate President, speaker of the House of Reps and the administrator of Rivers State.
