The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to Friday, October 10, 2025, the hearing of the suit filed by former House of Representatives member and 2023 Rivers State governorship aspirant, Dr. Farah Dagogo, challenging the legality of the emergency rule earlier imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice James Omotosho gave the directive on Tuesday after ordering the plaintiff to file a written address to substantiate his argument that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the case.
During the proceedings, counsel to the first respondent (President Tinubu), Babatunde Ogala, SAN, urged the court to rely on its earlier rulings on similar matters that were dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. However, Dr. Dagogo’s counsel, Barr. Babafemi Adegbite, sought to make an oral argument, insisting that the present suit was distinct and should not be dismissed on the same grounds.
The case, marked FHC/PH/CS/50/2025, was originally filed at the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court but was later transferred to Abuja following a directive from the Attorney General of the Federation to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
Speaking with journalists after the sitting, Dr. Dagogo, through his counsel, reiterated that despite the lifting of the emergency rule, the constitutional issue at stake remains unresolved.
“We know and still believe that the President did not have the power to do what he did,” Dr. Dagogo said. “Continuing with this case, even after the suspension of the emergency rule, is not an academic exercise. We seek judicial clarification for the sake of posterity and are prepared to go as far as the Supreme Court, God willing.”
He warned that leaving the matter unaddressed could set a dangerous precedent that might embolden future administrations to suspend elected officials for political reasons.
