Court Documents Reveal How Ibas Spent ₦302bn in Six Months in Rivers

Fresh revelations from court documents have detailed how over ₦302 billion was spent during the six-month administration of former Rivers State sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, sparking renewed scrutiny over public finance management in the state.

The disclosures emerged from a counter-affidavit filed by the Rivers State government before a High Court in Port Harcourt, in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) suit instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.

According to the documents, Rivers State received over ₦253.48 billion from Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) inflows and an additional ₦44.87 billion from other sources between March and August 2025. Total available funds stood at about ₦298.35 billion, while total spending exceeded ₦302.35 billion within the same period.

The financial records, backed by bank statements and budget documents submitted in court, revealed that a significant portion of the expenditure over ₦112.4 billion was spent on salaries, pensions, and overhead costs. Meanwhile, about ₦163.4 billion was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), with more than ₦106 billion disbursed in August alone, indicating a heavy concentration of spending in a single month.

Further breakdown showed that over ₦26 billion was used to service loans, while bank charges accounted for approximately ₦491 million. The documents also highlighted multiple high-value transfers to Government House, including repeated payments of up to ₦900 million and a single transaction of ₦4.27 billion recorded in August.

In addition, funds were allocated to various projects, including over ₦2.5 billion for Government House quarters, though only about ₦1.1 billion was reportedly spent, and revised allocations for office repairs and rehabilitation projects. A proposed ₦28 billion CCTV installation at the State House, however, was approved but not executed, according to the filings.

Reacting to the disclosures, SERAP stated it is currently reviewing the extensive financial documents to determine whether full compliance has been achieved or if further legal action is necessary. The case, which seeks to enforce transparency under Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act, has been adjourned for further hearing.

The revelations have intensified public debate around accountability and fiscal transparency during the six-month emergency rule period in Rivers State, with analysts calling for deeper scrutiny of the spending patterns uncovered in the court filings.