Ibas Rejects Rivers Assembly’s Probe of Six-Month Spending During Emergency Rule

Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas has dismissed the Rivers State House of Assembly’s decision to investigate the finances of the state during the six months he served as sole administrator under emergency rule.

Lawmakers had recently passed a resolution to review how revenues, contracts, and expenditures were managed during Ibas’ stewardship. 

However, the former administrator argued that the Assembly lacked the constitutional authority to summon or probe him since his appointment came directly from the Presidency.

“I was not appointed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, so I do not owe them accountability in that sense. My mandate came from the President, and any attempt to investigate me amounts to probing the federal government itself,” Ibas maintained.

Over ₦254bn received in six months

According to the Punch, records show that Rivers State received about ₦254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025, the period Ibas was in charge. The monthly allocations were broken down as follows:

March – ₦44.66 billion

April – ₦44.42 billion

May – ₦42.80 billion

June – ₦42.30 billion

July – ₦38.42 billion

August – ₦41.76 billion

More than half of these allocations reportedly came from the 13 percent oil derivation fund, reflecting Rivers’ position as one of Nigeria’s top oil-producing states.

Assembly pushes for accountability

The Assembly insisted that the probe is necessary to ensure transparency, especially as many major projects in the state remain incomplete despite the huge inflows.

One lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Our duty is to safeguard public interest. The people of Rivers deserve to know how these funds were spent.”

Civil society groups have also backed the demand for a public explanation, stressing that the state has yet to publish its 2025 Budget Implementation Report, making financial tracking almost impossible.

Legal dispute looms

The standoff is shaping into a constitutional tussle over whether a state legislature can investigate a federally appointed administrator who governed during an emergency. 

Analysts warn that the outcome could set a major precedent for how future states of emergency are handled in Nigeria.

While the Assembly insists on accountability, the federal government may also step in to shield its appointee, potentially turning the dispute into a protracted legal battle.