Rivers Administrator Ibas Ignores Reported Court Order, Appoints LG Administrators

Rivers State Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has announced the immediate appointment of administrators for all 23 local government areas.

The announcement, conveyed through a special government statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika, on Wednesday morning in Rivers State, comes on the heels of reports of a Federal High Court order purportedly restraining him from taking such action.

The reported injunction, issued on Tuesday by Justice Adam Muhammed following a suit filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, sought to prevent Ibas from making these appointments, highlighting a significant legal challenge to his authority. Despite this reported legal hurdle, Ibas proceeded with the appointments, signaling a strong assertion of control over the state’s local governments.

Furthermore, he also announced the reconstitution of previously suspended boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, indicating a comprehensive restructuring of the Rivers State administrative framework.