In a surprising turn of events, Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state just hours after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt reportedly issued an order restraining him from doing so.
The court order, delivered by Justice Adam Muhammed on Tuesday, came in response to a suit filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu. The case, marked FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, challenged Ibas’ authority to appoint administrators to oversee the affairs of local government councils.
Despite the legal challenge, the Sole Administrator proceeded not only with the appointments but also approved the constitution of various boards, commissions, and parastatals that had previously been suspended.
Details of the appointments and board reconstitutions were made public in a Special Government Announcement released on Wednesday morning by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.
Though the names of the new appointees were not listed, the statement said the appointments takes immediate effect.
It reads, “His Excellency The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
“He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended.
“All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”
Recall that last week, the sole administrator had suspended all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state with immediate effect.
In a seperate development, Ibas also cancelled all pending procurement and tender processes carried out by Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state.
He said the cancellation became necessary following the Supreme Court judgment and the absence of an appropriation law within the period.
The sole administrator according to a previous statement also issued by the SSG, directed all MDAs that carried out such tender processes for projects in their respective offices to refund such fees to the respective contractors immediately.
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