By Damilola Adeleke

The Rivers State Judiciary has firmly denied reports claiming that a court judgment was issued to remove the state’s Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, or reinstate suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Chief Registrar of the Rivers State High Court, David Ihua Maduenyi, described the viral reports as “entirely false and misleading.” The report, widely circulated on social media, alleged that Justice Boma Diepiri of the Federal High Court had ruled that the appointment of a sole administrator was unconstitutional.

The judiciary clarified that Justice Diepiri is not a judge of the Federal High Court but of the High Court of Rivers State, and further disclosed that he is currently on Easter vacation, which commenced on April 14, 2025.

“The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety,” the Chief Registrar stated.

He emphasized that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate judicial entities, and the fabricated report wrongly conflated their jurisdictions. He also criticized the authors of the report for their lack of understanding of court processes, noting that the judiciary has not delivered any judgment regarding the status of the Sole Administrator or the legality of the emergency rule imposed in the state.

Rivers State has been in political turmoil following the rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. President Bola Tinubu’s controversial appointment of a sole administrator was intended to stabilize the state but has instead intensified the political tension.