A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued a restraining order against the appointment of sole administrators to oversee the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

Justice Adamu Turaki Muhammed, who presided over the matter, granted the order on Monday, April 8, 2025, in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, a civic group led by Courage Msirimovu.

The suit was filed against the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, in his official capacity. The applicants, through a motion ex parte filed on March 28, 2025, sought an interim injunction restraining the respondent and his agents from appointing any individual as sole administrator or by any other title to take charge of the 23 local councils.

Justice Muhammed, in granting the reliefs sought, held that there was sufficient merit in the application and subsequently fixed April 14, 2025, for hearing on the substantive matter.