The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 31, 2025, to deliver its ruling on the issue of jurisdiction in a suit filed by former House of Representatives member, Farah Dagogo, challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s constitutional authority to suspend democratically elected officials during the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.

The suit, marked FHC/PH/CS/50/2025, lists as defendants the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (Rtd.), who served as Rivers State Administrator during the emergency period.

At the hearing on Friday, counsel to the plaintiff, Babafemi Adegbite, adopted his written arguments in support of the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Presiding Judge, Justice James Omotosho, after listening to submissions from both parties, reserved his ruling and adjourned the case to October 31.

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Adegbite reiterated his client’s position that President Tinubu exceeded his constitutional powers by suspending elected officials in both the executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State Government.

“Even though they have now been reinstated, the action remains unconstitutional. We need a clear judicial pronouncement to prevent future occurrences,” he said.

Adegbite maintained that the reinstatement of the affected officials does not render the case academic, emphasizing that the central issue concerns constitutional integrity and the limits of presidential power.

He further explained that Dagogo’s suit differs from previous emergency rule cases dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

“We made the court understand that our case is clearly distinguishable from those dismissed earlier. After adopting our submissions, the court reserved judgment until October 31,” he stated.

Originally filed at the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court, the matter was later transferred to the Abuja Division following a directive from the Attorney General of the Federation to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

The forthcoming ruling is expected to determine whether the court has jurisdiction to hear Dagogo’s constitutional challenge and could set a major precedent for the exercise of presidential emergency powers in Nigeria.