By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The Rivers State government has opened its books on the activities and spendings of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), who governed the state between March and August 2025.
Newstracktoday reports that Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), a former Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, following a declaration of emergency rule due to a severe political crisis and breakdown of governance. He holds executive control over the state.
Giving the accounts of Ibas short tenure, the state government disclosed that over N302 billion was spent.
The revelation was made in court filings before the High Court of Rivers State in Port Harcourt.
The Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning provided detailed records in response to a Freedom of Information lawsuit with suit number PHC/4153/CS/2025, filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), seeking transparency on government expenditures during the emergency administration.
According to a counter-affidavit filed on 10 March 2026, Rivers State received over N253 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and an additional N44.87 billion from other sources, bringing total receipts to approximately N298.35 billion.
Expenditure records, including bank statements and government estimates, show that more than N302.35 billion was spent within the period.
The counter-affidavit, read in part: “Our records show that N28 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. Therefore, no document evidencing such expenditure can be provided.”
“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.”
“The Defendants/Respondents have now compiled and made available the requested information in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, and copies are herein attached as Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of the Government House estimate).”
“By furnishing the documents requested, the Defendants/Respondents have substantially complied with SERAP’s demand.” “While the Defendants/Respondents recognize the public interest in transparency and accountability, the delay in providing the requested information did not occasion any specific or proven injury to SERAP.”
The filings show payments for salaries, pensions, overheads, loans, bank charges, and allocations to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), with over N106 billion disbursed in August alone.
Government House also received repeated transfers, including payments ranging from N1.8 million to N4.27 billion.
SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said the organisation is studying the documents to determine if additional requests or amendments are needed.
“We are studying the large documents on the spending of the over N302 billion [N302,352,458,523.07] of FAAC allocations and other funds by the Rivers State government between March and August 2025.”
“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.”
“Our preliminary assessment of the two exhibits—Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of the Government House estimate)—show, among other others, the following details:” “Rivers State received FAAC inflows of over N253.48 billion (N253,480,052,907.33) and other receipts totalling over N44.87 billion (N44,868,976,368.32) from March to August 2025, bringing the total funds received to approximately N298.35 billion (N298,349,029,275.65).”
“The two exhibits also show transfers to government entities, payments to individuals (NIP transfers), and repeated transfers to Government House during the period from March to August 2025. In total, over N302.35 billion was shown to have been spent during this period.”
“The exhibits reveal multiple payments to Government House ranging from N1.8 million to N4.27 billion, including transactions of N61.9 million, N122 million, N170 million, N389 million, N750 million, N850 million, and N900 million—with the N900 million payments occurring repeatedly. Notably, a single transfer of N4.27 billion was recorded in August.”
“Over N112.41 billion (N112,408,021,641.07) was reportedly spent on salaries, pensions, and overheads, while N163.44 billion (N163,441,654,922.70) was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).” “Over N106 billion of the N163.44 billion allocated to MDAs was disbursed in August alone, showing a significant concentration of spending within a single month.”
“Additionally, over N26.01 billion (N26,011,189,540.73) was reportedly spent to service loans, while over N491.59 million (N491,592,418.57) was spent on bank charges, bringing these to approximately N26.50 billion (N26,502,781,959.30) during the same period.”
“Over N2.5 billion was released for the construction of Government House quarters, but only about N1.1 billion is reflected in the exhibits as actual spending. The exhibits show a revised allocation of N2.67 billion for office building repairs, while about N404 million was spent.”
“N350 million is stated to be allocated for canteen and kitchen equipment. It is unclear from the exhibits how much was released for the project. Over N463 million was shown to be spent on rehabilitation projects. A project initially budgeted at N800 million appeared to be increased to N1.56 billion.”
“The closing balance in the account as at August 2025 was N19,929,707,462.66,” SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said.
The lawsuit, filed on 31 October 2025, is pending before Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku and has been adjourned to 19 May 2026 for further hearing.
Culls from Sun