Lawlessness Unleashed: Falana Slams Rivers Sole Administrator’s Appearance At NEC Meeting

By Abu Ismail 

Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has fiercely criticized the Federal Government for what he described as a blatant disregard for the constitution, following the shocking appearance of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, at the 149th session of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

The meeting, held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima and attended by state governors, ministers, and other critical stakeholders in the nation’s economic management. In a development that raised eyebrows across the country, Ibok-Ete Ibas, who currently acts as the Sole Administrator in the political quagmire rocking Rivers State, was seen participating in deliberations that, traditionally and constitutionally, are reserved for elected governors.

At a press conference on Friday, Falana did not mince words in condemning the move, describing it as "an open assault on the 1999 Constitution and a dangerous precedent that could plunge the nation further into political chaos."

According to Falana, the Nigerian Constitution only recognizes elected governors as legitimate representatives of their states at the National Economic Council. He stressed that the appointment of a Sole Administrator is alien to Nigeria’s constitutional framework, and as such, Ibok-Ete Ibas's participation in the meeting lacks legal backing.

“It is completely unconstitutional for a Sole Administrator — a position unknown to our laws — to sit at a meeting meant exclusively for duly elected governors and statutory members. This brazen illegality undermines the principles of democracy, separation of powers, and the rule of law," Falana stated.

He further warned that if such actions were allowed to stand, they would erode democratic norms and encourage executive lawlessness at both the federal and state levels.

Falana also expressed concern about the long-term implications, urging Nigerians to resist all attempts to normalize illegality under any guise. "Today, it is Rivers State; tomorrow, it could be any other state. We must not allow this creeping dictatorship to take root," he cautioned.

The situation in Rivers State has been a subject of national controversy after deep-seated political disputes between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, escalated, leading to dramatic political realignments. Amid the crisis, the appointment of a Sole Administrator raised alarms over the breach of democratic order.

As Nigerians await official clarification from the Presidency and the leadership of the NEC, many observers believe Falana's strong rebuke may ignite broader legal challenges against what is being described as an illegal and provocative maneuver.