The Rivers government says more than N302 billion was spent by the administration of Ibok-Ete Ibas — during his stint as sole administrator of the state.
The disclosure was made by the Rivers state
accountant-general and the ministry of budget and economic planning at the high
court of Rivers state in Port Harcourt.
The information was presented in response to a freedom of
information lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project (SERAP).
The suit, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is pending before S.H.
Aprioku, judge of the Rivers state high court.
According to a counter-affidavit dated March 10, 2026, the
state received over N253.48 billion from the federation account allocation
committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025.
The affidavit said the total funds received during the
period, including other revenues, amounted to about N298.35 billion.
Documents attached as evidence include bank statements and
capital expenditure pages of the government house estimate.
The documents, marked exhibit DTI and exhibit DT2, run into
49 pages.
“Our records show that ₦28 billion was approved for the
installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the State House but no
expenditure was incurred in respect of the project,” the affidavit reads.
“Therefore, no document evidencing such expenditure can be
provided.”
The affidavit added that the state government did not
contest SERAP’s right to access information under the Freedom of Information
Act.
“The Defendants/Respondents do not contest SERAP’s right to
access information under the Freedom of Information Act and has no intention
whatsoever of withholding the requested documents,” it said.
“The Defendants/Respondents have now compiled and made
available the requested information in accordance with the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act.
“By furnishing the documents requested, the
Defendants/Respondents have substantially complied with SERAP’s demand.”
REVIEWING DOCUMENTS
Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director of SERAP, said the
organisation is reviewing the documents detailing the expenditure.
“We are studying the large documents on the spending of the
over ₦302 billion of FAAC allocations and other funds by the Rivers State
government between March and August 2025,” Oluwadare said.
“Our teams are analysing the spending project-by-project and
we will decide whether our requests for information have been fully complied
with or whether a fresh request for information or an amendment to our
originating processes is necessary.”
He said the records revealed multiple transfers to
government house ranging from N1.8 million to N4.27 billion.
The documents also show several payments, including N61.9
million, N122 million, N170 million, N389 million, N750 million, N850 million
and N900 million.
Oluwadare said a single transfer of N4.27 billion was
recorded in August 2025. He said the records indicate that N112.41 billion was
spent on salaries, pensions, and overheads.
Oluwadare added that N163.44 billion was allocated to
ministries, departments, and agencies.
He said more than N106 billion of the amount allocated to
MDAs was disbursed in August alone. The documents also show that N26.01 billion
was spent on servicing loans.
Oluwadare said about N491.59 million was spent on bank
charges during the period. He added that more than N2.5 billion was released
for the construction of the government house quarters.
According to the records, about N1.1 billion of the amount
was reflected as actual spending. The exhibits also show a revised allocation
of N2.67 billion for office building repairs.
The records indicate that about N404 million was spent on
the project. The documents also show an allocation of N350 million for canteen
and kitchen equipment. They also reveal that more than N463 million was spent
on rehabilitation projects.
According to the records, a project initially budgeted at
N800 million was increased to N1.56 billion. The documents show that the
closing balance in the account as of August 2025 stood at N19.93 billion.
SERAP is asking the court to determine whether it is
entitled to access the requested information under the constitution and the
Freedom of Information Act.
The suit was filed on October 31, 2025, against the Rivers
state accountant-general and the ministry of budget and economic planning.
Aprioku adjourned the case to May 19, 2026, for further
hearing.
EMERGENCY RULE
On March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu imposed emergency
rule on Rivers state due to a protracted political crisis.
He also suspended Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state;
his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial
period of six months.
The president appointed Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the
state’s sole administrator.
The emergency rule ended on September 17, with Fubara asked
to resume as governor of the state the following day.
When the Rivers assembly resumed plenary, the lawmakers
resolved to investigate the management of the state’s finances during the
emergency rule.
However, Ibas rejected the resolution of the Rivers
assembly.
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