Fresh disclosures before the Rivers State High Court have revealed that over ₦302 billion was allegedly spent within six months by the administration of former Rivers sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd).
The revelations emerged in a Freedom of Information suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which is seeking transparency over funds managed during the emergency rule period between March and August 2025.
The case, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is being heard by Justice S.H. Aprioku.
In a counter-affidavit dated March 10, 2026, the Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning disclosed that the state received over ₦253 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) during the period.
According to the affidavit, FAAC allocations to the state between March and August 2025 stood at ₦253,480,052,907.33. Supporting documents, including bank statements and capital estimates, showed that total inflows, alongside other receipts, amounted to about ₦298.35 billion, while total expenditure exceeded ₦302.35 billion.
The affidavit also addressed specific project allocations, stating that ₦28 billion approved for the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the State House was not utilised, with no records of expenditure available for the project.
The state government maintained that it had complied with SERAP’s request for information, affirming that it does not contest the organisation’s right to access public records under the Freedom of Information Act and has no intention of withholding any requested documents. It further argued that any delay in releasing the information did not result in any proven harm.
Reacting to the disclosures, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare said the organisation is reviewing the extensive financial records to determine whether full compliance has been achieved or if further legal steps are required.
He noted that preliminary findings indicate extensive financial activity, including repeated high-value transfers to Government House and significant spending concentrated within a single month.
According to him, the records show multiple payments to Government House ranging from ₦1.8 million to ₦4.27 billion, with several transactions of ₦900 million recorded repeatedly, and a single transfer of ₦4.27 billion made in August.
A breakdown of expenditures showed that over ₦112.41 billion was spent on salaries, pensions, and overheads, while ₦163.44 billion was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies. Of the amount allocated to MDAs, more than ₦106 billion was disbursed in August alone, indicating a heavy concentration of spending within that month.
Other expenditures included over ₦26 billion for loan servicing and about ₦491 million on bank charges.
The documents also raised concerns over project execution, with over ₦2.5 billion reportedly released for the construction of Government House quarters, while only about ₦1.1 billion was reflected in the records. In another instance, a project initially budgeted at ₦800 million appeared to have been increased to ₦1.56 billion.
SERAP is asking the court to determine whether it is entitled to full access to the financial records under the Constitution and the Freedom of Information Act.
The matter, filed on October 31, 2025, has been adjourned to May 19, 2026, for further hearing.
