Former Rivers State sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, is facing mounting scrutiny over more than ₦302 billion spent during his six-month tenure, according to disclosures made in court filings.
The spending details emerged in a case before the Rivers State High Court, where the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is challenging the transparency of funds managed under Ibas, a retired vice admiral who oversaw the state during emergency rule between March and August 2025.
In a counter-affidavit, the state’s Accountant-General and Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning said Rivers received over ₦253.48 billion from federal allocations and an additional ₦44.87 billion in other revenues within the period. Total spending, however, was put at about ₦302.35 billion.
Documents filed in court indicate repeated large transfers linked to Government House under Ibas’ administration, including payments ranging from ₦1.8 million to ₦4.27 billion, with several transactions of up to ₦900 million recurring. A single ₦4.27 billion transfer was recorded in August.
The filings show that ₦112.41 billion went to salaries, pensions and overheads, while ₦163.44 billion was disbursed to ministries, departments and agencies, with more than ₦106 billion spent in August alone the final full month of Ibas’ administration.
Loan servicing accounted for about ₦26.5 billion, alongside nearly ₦492 million in bank charges.
The documents also reveal that ₦28 billion was approved for a CCTV project at Government House during Ibas’ tenure, although no actual spending was recorded for the project.
SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said the organisation was reviewing the disclosures to determine whether authorities had fully complied with its request for information.
“Our teams are analysing the spending project-by-project and will decide our next steps,” he said.
The case, filed in October 2025 under Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act, is part of broader efforts to hold Ibas’ administration accountable for its management of public funds during the emergency period.
The matter has been adjourned until May 19 for further hearing.