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By Myke Agunwa
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to remove the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) , citing a breach of constitutional procedure and defiance of President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
Falana in a statement on Thursday, referenced the official Federal Government Gazette, that outlined the terms governing the SA’s operations but pointed out that the SA has faulted all the administrative guides.
He recounted that Admiral Ibas has made several appointments, dissolved constituted authorities, revoked contracts, dissolved boards which are clearly not part of his mandate.
He recalled that upon his anointment, Tinubu stressed that “the Sole Administrator shall operate on the basis of such Regulations that may, from time to time, be issued by me.
“It is common knowledge that President Bola Tinubu has not issued any Regulation for the operation of the Sole Administrator.”
Despite this, the appointed Sole Administrator has proceeded to make appointments and remove officials who were earlier appointed by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Describing the development as unlawful, Falana said: “By treating the orders of President Bola Tinubu with contempt, the Sole Administrator has compounded the illegality of his appointment.
The Sole Administrator ought to be removed without any further delay.”
The legal luminary’s position comes amid a broader political crisis in Rivers State, where the legitimacy of key appointments and the balance of powers between the state and federal government continue to generate intense debate.