Rivers State Spent Over ₦302 Billion During Ibas’ Tenure as Sole Administrator, FOI Records Reveal

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Rivers State authorities have disclosed that more than ₦302 billion was expended while Ibok-Ete Ibas served as the state’s sole administrator.

The revelation emerged during proceedings before Justice S.H. Aprioku of the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The case is registered as PHC/4153/CS/2025.

According to a counter-affidavit dated March 10, 2026, the state received over ₦253.48 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025. Including other revenues, total receipts during the period amounted to roughly ₦298.35 billion. Supporting documents, including bank statements and capital expenditure records, were submitted as evidence.

The affidavit revealed that although ₦28 billion was approved for CCTV installation at the Government House, no funds were actually spent on the project.

The Rivers State Government affirmed it did not contest SERAP’s right to access information and provided all requested documents in compliance with the FOI Act.

SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the records show ₦112.41 billion went to salaries, pensions, and overhead costs, while ₦163.44 billion was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies. Additionally, ₦26.01 billion serviced loans, ₦491.59 million covered bank charges, and over ₦2.5 billion was released for Government House quarters construction, of which about ₦1.1 billion was spent. Other expenditures included office repairs, rehabilitation projects, and canteen equipment.

The FOI documents also indicated that a project initially budgeted at ₦800 million was later revised to ₦1.56 billion, with a closing account balance of ₦19.93 billion as of August 2025.

SERAP is reviewing the documents to determine whether its requests for information have been fully met and may seek further clarification from the government.

The FOI lawsuit stems from the six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, which saw Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly suspended. Retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed sole administrator, a role he held until September 17, 2025.

The Rivers State Assembly later sought to investigate financial management during the emergency period, but Ibas rejected the resolution. The court has adjourned the case to May 19, 2026, for further hearing.