Federal High Court Orders Substituted Service in Dagogo’s Suit Against Tinubu, Akpabio, Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibas, Others
The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has granted an order for substituted service in the suit instituted by Hon. Dr. Farah Dagogo against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the controversial Sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), among others.
The case with Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/50/2025, presided over by Honourable Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, came up before the court on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. The Plaintiff, Hon. Dr. Farah Dagogo had approached the court seeking reliefs connected to actions allegedly involving the President, the Senate President, the Senate of the Federal Republic, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), the recently installed Sole Administrator for Rivers State.
In the motion ex parte filed on April 8, 2025, the Plaintiff’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), C. I. Enweluzo, requested the court to grant permission for substituted service of the originating summons and other related Court Processes. This was necessitated by difficulties in serving the Defendants personally.
Justice Mohammed, after reviewing the affidavit sworn by Solomon Ayotamuno, a litigation assistant at Liberty Chambers, and hearing arguments from the Plaintiff’s counsel—including Femi Adegbite Esq., M. Dayi Esq., Daso Jack, and D. Bakweri Esq.—granted the application.
The court also ordered that all relevant court documents be served on the Defendants through DHL courier service to their last known addresses. The affected addresses include:
* The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Asokoro, Abuja.
* The Senate President and the Senate of the Federal Republic at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
* The Speaker of the House of Representatives at the same Assembly Complex.
* Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) at the Rivers State Government House, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
In addition to the order for substituted service, the court also directed that a hearing notice be issued, and the case was adjourned to May 12, 2025, for substantive hearing.
