The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned to May 22, 2025, the hearing of a suit seeking to bar Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, from appointing local government administrators across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

The claimant, Oyingi Imiete, at the resumed hearing, told the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing of a motion for interlocutory injunction.

Imiete, however, revealed that the respondent had already appointed sole administrators for all 23 LGAs on April 9, 2025, allegedly after receiving the court’s order and originating processes in the suit.

He explained that service was effected by the court bailiff on the same day as the appointments.

“The matter came up for motion. The applicant’s motion and they said the motion was withdrawn by the applicant.

“The applicants had equally put in the motion for mandatory restorative order and it equally has been fixed for hearing because the actions of the respondent have greatly affected the subject matter before the court,” the claimant said.

Responding, counsel for the defendant argued that the originating processes were not served until two days after the appointments and supported the claimant’s decision to withdraw the motion, calling the appointments a completed act.

He added that his client had not yet been served the new motion and reserved the right to respond when properly served.

Both parties agreed to proceed with a substantive hearing of the originating summons.

The court stressed that despite perceived frivolity, all applications must be heard and stated that the facts and issues remain within the purview of the parties.

The case was subsequently adjourned to May 22, 2025, for further hearing.

The suit, filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative and its coordinator Courage Nsirimovu, seeks to stop the administrator from making such appointments, which the plaintiffs argue are unconstitutional and violate the principles of democratic governance.

Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, on April 7, granted an interim injunction barring Ibas from proceeding with the appointments and summoned him to appear before the court to explain why the injunction should not be made permanent.

However, the Sole Administrator went ahead to make the appointments, which drew criticisms from civil society organizations.

President Donald Trump has said more products need to be produced in the United States, so it is prepared in case of “war.”

There are fears of a recession around the world with Trump’s crackdown on imports.

It is believed to be part of his plan to ramp up domestic manufacturing and have more goods made in America.

In his latest explanation of the tariff policy, Trump claimed it was necessary to deal with any future war.

Trump made the comments on Air Force One while talking about possible pharmaceutical tariffs on Sunday.

He said: “We’re going to have our drugs made in the United States.

“So that in case of war, in case of whatever, we’re not relying on China and various other countries, which is not a good idea.”

Trump put a 90-day pause on many of his on-again, off-again reciprocal tariffs, but left in place a 145% import tax on goods from China.

In response, Beijing suspended exports of certain rare earth minerals and magnets that are crucial for the world’s car, semiconductor and aerospace industries.

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‎The Member Representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Chinedu Ogah has called for the restoration of Abakaliki Street in Anambra State to promote unity and oneness among the two states.
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‎Abakaliki street in Awka was changed to Club Road by Anambra State Government.
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Chinedu ‎Ogah who is the Chairman, House Committee on Correctional Services urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to immediately restore Abakaliki Street in the state, warning that failure to do so, may make Ebonyi State to start changing all streets in Abakaliki to Ebonyi names and villages.
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‎He noted that Anambra has over 100 streets in Ebonyi State and wondered why the only street named after Ebonyi State should be changed in Anambra.
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Chinedu ‎Ogah said Ebonyi State has been so kind to Anambra people by accommodating them in all aspects of life including elective positions and other areas, whereas Ebonyi people living in Anambra have not been treated fairly in that state.
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‎”Professor Chukwuma Soludo should readdress the issue of changing Abakaliki Street to Club Street in Anambra. If he fails to do this, it will make Ebonyi people to change all the names of Anambra streets in Ebonyi State”
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‎“In Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, we have Awka Street, Onitsha Street, Ekwulumili Street, Ekwulobia Street, Aforezuna Street and many others, and they have not been changed.
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‎“Anambra has over 100 streets in Abakaliki but the only one street named after Abakaliki in Anambra State has been changed. Governor Soludo should change his decision immediately. If he doesn’t do so, we will start renaming the streets we named Anambra to our own names and our villages.
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