BY Deborah Nnamdi
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday summoned the immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ibas, who arrived at about 5:50 p.m. dressed in brown native attire, was joined by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukayede.
Edun had earlier entered the villa but left briefly, returning with a file in hand, underscoring the seriousness of the meeting.
Ibas served as sole administrator of Rivers State for six months until September 17, when his tenure ended with the expiration of the emergency rule. His exit followed Tinubu’s directive reinstating suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly.
The Rivers State Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, announced plans to probe the state’s financial management during the six-month emergency rule, including allocations from the consolidated revenue fund, contract awards, and other expenditures.
Between March and August 2025, Rivers State reportedly received at least ₦254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) under Ibas’s administration. The former sole administrator has, however, opposed the Assembly’s decision to investigate the spending.
Details of the meeting between President Tinubu, Ibas, Edun, and Olukayede were not immediately disclosed.
