The former Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), and the Rivers State House of Assembly may be heading for a clash after lawmakers announced plans to investigate how the state’s money was spent during his six-month tenure.
Ibas stopped being administrator on September 17 after President Bola Tinubu ended the emergency rule in Rivers State.
Tinubu had earlier suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state House of Assembly for six months due to political crisis in the state.
When the Assembly resumed sitting, Speaker Martin Amaewhule said they would investigate how funds were used during the emergency rule.
Rivers Received Over N254bn in Six Months
According to records, Rivers State got about N254.37bn from the Federation
Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025. On average, this meant about N42.4bn came in monthly.
The biggest source of this money was the 13 per cent oil derivation, which brought in N133.24bn—over half of the total. Value Added Tax (VAT) also contributed significantly, adding about N107.78bn during the period.
However, the state also lost about N26.31bn to external debt servicing. Despite the huge inflows, Rivers has not published its 2025 Budget Implementation Report, making it unclear how the money was spent.
Civil Society Demands Accountability
Civil society groups in the state are calling for a full investigation.
Enefaa Georgewill, leader of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, said the process that brought Ibas into office was “illegal” and insisted the huge funds received only raised more questions.
He urged Governor Fubara to set up a panel of inquiry to find out exactly how much was received and how it was spent.
Emma Obe of the Civil Liberties Organisation also described the emergency government as unconstitutional and demanded accountability.
Ibas Responds
Reacting through his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubu, Ibas said the House of Assembly had no power to probe him since they were not the ones who appointed him.
He argued that he acted on behalf of the President and under the supervision of the National Assembly.
According to him, probing his administration would amount to probing both the President and the National Assembly.
He described the lawmakers’ plan as “a fool’s errand.”
Fubara Resumes Office
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara, who has returned to office, urged the people of Rivers State to continue praying for peace and progress.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service in his hometown, he thanked God and the people for their prayers during the period of emergency rule.