IBAS ADMINISTRATION SPENT OVER N302Bn IN SIX MONTHS

Read Time:3 Minute, 37 Second

BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR

The Rivers government stated that over N302 billion was spent during the time when Ibok-Ete Ibas was the only administrator of the state.

This information was shared by the Rivers state accountant–general and the ministry of budget and economic planning during a hearing at the high court in Port Harcourt.

The information was presented in response to a freedom of information lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The suit, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is pending before S.H. Aprioku, judge of the Rivers state high court.

READ MORE…

NDLEA SEIZES COCAINE IN DRY FISH, ARRESTS GRANDPA WITH METH

According to a counter-affidavit dated March 10, 2026, the state received over N253.48 billion from the federation account allocation committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025.

The affidavit said the total funds received during the period, including other revenues, amounted to about N298.35 billion.

Documents attached as evidence include bank statements and capital expenditure pages of the government house estimate.

The documents, marked exhibit DTI and exhibit DT2, run into 49 pages.

“Our records show that ₦28 billion was approved for the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the State House but no expenditure was incurred in respect of the project,” the affidavit reads.

“Therefore, no document evidencing such expenditure can be provided.”

The affidavit added that the state government did not contest SERAP’s right to access information under the Freedom of Information Act.

“The Defendants/Respondents do not contest SERAP’s right to access information under the Freedom of Information Act and has no intention whatsoever of withholding the requested documents,” it said.

“The Defendants/Respondents have now compiled and made available the requested information in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

“By furnishing the documents requested, the Defendants/Respondents have substantially complied with SERAP’s demand.”

DOCUMENT REVIEW

Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director of SERAP, said the organisation is reviewing the documents detailing the expenditure.

“We are studying the large documents on the spending of the over ₦302 billion of FAAC allocations and other funds by the Rivers State government between March and August 2025,” Oluwadare said.

“Our teams are analysing the spending project-by-project and we will decide whether our requests for information have been fully complied with or whether a fresh request for information or an amendment to our originating processes is necessary.”

He said the records revealed multiple transfers to government house ranging from N1.8 million to N4.27 billion. The documents also list several payments, including N61.9 million, N122 million, N170 million, N389 million, N750 million, N850 million, and N900 million. Oluwadare mentioned a single transfer of N4.27 billion was recorded in August 2025. He stated that the records show N112.41 billion was spent on salaries, pensions, and overheads.

Oluwadare added that N163.44 billion was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies.

He said more than N106 billion of the amount allocated to MDAs was disbursed in August alone. The documents also show that N26.01 billion was spent on servicing loans.

Oluwadare said about N491.59 million was spent on bank charges during the period. He added that more than N2.5 billion was released for the construction of the government house quarters.

According to the records, about N1.1 billion of the amount was reflected as actual spending. The exhibits also show a revised allocation of N2.67 billion for office building repairs.

The records indicate that about N404 million was spent on the project. The documents also show an allocation of N350 million for canteen and kitchen equipment. They also reveal that more than N463 million was spent on rehabilitation projects.

According to the records, a project initially budgeted at N800 million was increased to N1.56 billion. The documents show that the closing balance in the account as of August 2025 stood at N19.93 billion.

SERAP is asking the court to determine whether it is entitled to access the requested information under the constitution and the Freedom of Information Act.

The suit was filed on October 31, 2025, against the Rivers state accountant-general and the ministry of budget and economic planning.

Aprioku adjourned the case to May 19, 2026, for further hearing.