Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Rivers State government has disclosed detailed figures showing that more than ₦302 billion was spent during the six‑month period when Vice Admiral Ibok‑Ete Ibas (retd) served as Sole Administrator of the state between March and August 2025. The financial disclosure was submitted in court as part of a legal challenge seeking transparency over public expenditure during the interim administration.
The spending breakdown was presented before a Port Harcourt High Court in response to a lawsuit filed by the Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) under the Freedom of Information Act. The organisation had sought access to the state’s financial records to understand how public funds were managed while the state was under emergency administration.
According to court filings by the Rivers State Accountant‑General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the state received about ₦253.48 billion in statutory allocations from the Federation Account between March and August 2025. Additional revenue of roughly ₦44.87 billion came from other sources, bringing total funds available during the period to nearly ₦298.35 billion. Despite this, total expenditures recorded exceeded the available inflows, amounting to more than ₦302.35 billion.
Personnel costs represented a significant portion of the spending, with salaries, pensions, and allied overheads accounting for over ₦112.41 billion. Ministries, departments, and agencies were allocated more than ₦163.44 billion, with a notable concentration of disbursements—exceeding ₦106 billion—occurring in August, the final month of the interim administration.
The court records also revealed that over ₦26 billion went toward servicing existing state loans, while bank charges amounted to approximately ₦491 million. Multiple transfers to Government House accounts were documented, including a transfer of roughly ₦4.27 billion in August alone.
Financial documents submitted to the court clarified that although ₦28 billion had been approved for the installation of a closed‑circuit television system at Government House, no withdrawals were made for that project. Officials assured the court that all relevant financial records requested had been provided and that there was no intention to withhold information.
Beyond routine personnel and capital spending, the filings showed allocations for office repairs, equipment purchases, and infrastructure upgrades across government departments. For example, more than ₦2.5 billion was budgeted for Government House staff quarters, with approximately ₦1.1 billion spent. An allocation of ₦2.67 billion for office repairs reflected an actual expenditure of about ₦404 million, alongside various other smaller infrastructure and equipment outlays.
By the end of August 2025, the state reportedly maintained a closing balance of around ₦19.93 billion, according to the financial summary presented in court.
The backdrop to the fiscal disclosure was a state of emergency declared in Rivers State in March 2025, which led to the suspension of the elected governor, his deputy, and the entire State House of Assembly. The federal government appointed Vice Admiral Ibas to lead the administration during this period, a move that was challenged in court on constitutional grounds and eventually went to Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
SERAP’s legal action aims to compel full transparency and ensure public access to detailed information on how public funds were utilised during the emergency administration. The group’s legal team has indicated that a thorough, project‑by‑project review of the submitted records is underway, and additional legal steps may follow if any gaps or irregularities are identified.
The matter continues before the High Court, with further hearings expected as stakeholders seek greater clarity on the state’s fiscal conduct during the six‑month interim governance period. The Rivers State government has maintained that it is cooperating with all legal and constitutional requirements in providing the requested financial documentation.
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