The Rivers State Judiciary has vehemently denied claims that one of its judges, Justice Boma Diepiri, issued a ruling ordering the removal of the state’s Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, or reinstating suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a statement released on Wednesday, the Chief Registrar of the Rivers State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi, described the online report making such claims as “entirely false” and “misleading”.
According to the debunked report, which was widely circulated on social media, Justice Diepiri delivered a judgment at the Federal High Court declaring the appointment of a sole administrator unconstitutional and ordering Ibas to vacate office.
However, the Rivers State Judiciary has clarified that Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not the Federal High Court, as falsely suggested by the report. Furthermore, the judge is currently on Easter vacation, which commenced on Monday, 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 statement read.
Ihua-Maduenyi noted that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, adding that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author.”
He also dismissed any suggestion that the Rivers State High Court had issued a ruling on the legality of the ongoing emergency rule or the status of the Sole Administrator.
The denial comes amidst a backdrop of crisis in Rivers State, following the fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of a sole administrator has only added to the tension, which has been brewing in the state.