Ibas Dares Rivers Lawmakers as Probe Looms Over Billions Received During Emergency Rule

The immediate past Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), and the Rivers State House of Assembly may be on a collision course following the lawmakers’ resolve to probe the state’s finances during the six months of emergency rule.

Ibas, who handed over on September 17 after President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule, is facing mounting pressure from both the Assembly and civil society groups to account for how over N254.37bn received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August was managed.

During its first sitting after resumption, the House led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule resolved to investigate “spending from the consolidated revenue fund for the award of contracts and other expenditure” under the sole administrator.

Findings show that Rivers’ allocations were heavily buoyed by the 13% oil derivation, which contributed over N133bn (52.4%) of receipts, while statutory allocations, VAT inflows, and deductions for foreign loans also shaped the inflow-outflow balance.

Despite these large sums, the state has not published its 2025 Budget Implementation Report, fuelling concerns over transparency.

Civil society groups, including the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Rivers and the Civil Liberties Organisation, have described Ibas’ tenure as opaque, with most major projects in the state including the Assembly Complex stalled. They demanded that Governor Siminalayi Fubara set up a probe panel.

Coalition Chairman, Enefaa Georgewill, said:
“We suspect corruption. The major projects are stalled, yet billions came in. Rivers people deserve to know how their money was spent.”

The CLO’s spokesperson, Emma Obe, added:
“The emergency government operated illegally. The budget was passed without public hearings. Whoever spent public money must account for it.”

But Ibas, speaking through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, dismissed the Assembly’s move as “a fool’s errand.”

He argued that since he was appointed by President Tinubu and supervised by the National Assembly, any probe would amount to questioning the President and the federal legislature.

“Were they the ones that appointed the administrator? If not, it goes without reason that they have limitations. Probing the administrator is like probing the President and the National Assembly,” Igbikiowubu said.

Meanwhile, Governor Fubara, in his first public outing since resumption, urged Rivers people to continue praying for peace and stability. Speaking at a thanksgiving service in St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Opobo Town, he said prayers had sustained him and pledged renewed dedication to serving the people.