RIVERS COURT STOPS SOLE ADMINISTRATOR IBAS FROM SWEARING IN NEW APPOINTEES

RIVERS COURT STOPS SOLE ADMINISTRATOR IBAS FROM SWEARING IN NEW APPOINTEES

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (rtd), from proceeding with the inauguration of the newly appointed Chairman and members of the Rivers State Services Commission, Daily Watch Nigeria reports.

Justice Frank Onyiri issued the order following the adoption of final written arguments in an ongoing suit filed by members of the commission appointed by the suspended governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

The suspended commission members are contesting their removal by Ibas, seeking judicial intervention on what they describe as an unlawful suspension.
Onyiri, after handing the order on Monday, ordered parties in the matter to maintain status quo and adjourned till September 29 for judgment.

However, the claimants, Reverend Goodlife Iduoku Ben, Amadi Christian Echele, Chimenem Wisdom Jerome and three others are challenging what they described as their illegal sack by the Sole Administrator.

They are arguing that Ibas removed them from office without due process, adding that the Sole Administrator has no legal backing to remove them from office.

The claimants are contending that they were legally appointed and confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and that before they were issued letters of appointment by the Governor, a record of their confirmation was with the Clerk of the House.

According to their affidavit signed by the suspended Chairman Goodlife Iduoku Ben, the claimants are insisting that the sole administrator lacked the legal powers to suspend them and appoint new chairman and members of the commission.

Meanwhile, the defendants in the suits are the Sole Administrator Ibas, the accountant general of the state, Access Bank, Zenith Bank and 11 others.