Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has stopped the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed Chairman and members of the Rivers State Services Commission.
Justice Frank Onyiri gave the order on Monday, asking all parties to maintain the status quo pending judgment on a suit filed by the previously appointed commission members, who were suspended by Ibas.
The claimants, Rev. Goodlife Iduoku Ben, Amadi Christian Echele, Chimenem Wisdom Jerome, and three others, argue that they were lawfully appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, and that Ibas acted without legal authority to remove them.
They are seeking the court’s intervention to nullify their suspension and the appointment of new members, insisting due process was not followed. The court adjourned the matter to September 29 for judgment.
