Ibas Rejects Assembly’s Move to Probe Six-Month Spending in Rivers State

Aye the Monarch

22 Sept, 2025

The Rivers State House of Assembly is preparing to investigate the state expenditures carried out during the six-month emergency rule under Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.). But Ibas has strongly rejected the proposed probe, calling it an exercise in futility.

🔍 Background & Key Details

President Bola Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, following a power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
During this period, Ibas was appointed sole administrator of the oil-rich state.The emergency rule ended on September 17, 2025, and elected officials, including Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, have resumed duties.

💰 Revenues & Spending Under Review

Rivers State received ₦254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025 under Ibas’s administration.
The allocation includes funds from oil derivation (13%) which made up approx. ₦133.24 billion — about 52.4% of total FAAC allocations during that period.
Other receipts included VAT, ecology funds, and other inflows. But there have been major deductions: nearly ₦26.31 billion was deducted for external debt servicing in the same period.

⚖️ What the Assembly Wants & What Ibas Says

Assembly’s position:

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has resolved to probe how the state’s consolidated revenue fund was spent during the emergency rule — particularly for award of contracts and other expenditures.
Part of this includes seeking transparency over what projects were executed, how salaries, recurrent costs, capital projects, pensions etc. were managed. Civil society groups have called for the same.

Ibas’s response:

Ibas, via his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, rejected the Assembly’s move. He argues the Assembly does not have power to probe him because:
1. They did not appoint him as Administrator; he was appointed by President Tinubu.
2. He operated under supervision of the National Assembly, so probing him would amount to probing both the President and the National Assembly.
He called the idea of the probe a “fool’s errand.”

🧾 Implications & Observations

The tension between the Assembly and Ibas reflects deeper issues of accountability and constitutional authority during emergency administrations. When an administrator isn't elected or appointed by the state legislature, the legislative oversight scope becomes legally ambiguous.
Citizens & civil society are pressing for a Budget Implementation Report, which Rivers State has not published. This report would detail how much revenue was generated, how much came from FAAC, IGR (Internally Generated Revenue), and how those funds were spent.
There is concern that with such large allocations (₦254.37bn), there could have been mismanagement or irregularities, especially since many major projects reportedly remain stalled.
On the other hand, Ibas’s defense highlights the complexity of federal vs state powers when emergency rules are involved. It may take court interpretations, constitutional law, or perhaps political negotiation to resolve who has what oversight.

✅ What Comes Next

The Rivers State House of Assembly may move ahead with a formal investigation, possibly summoning Ibas and his aides to account for contracts and expenditures during his tenure.
Civil society groups may demand an independent panel or audit to verify spending.
Legal challenges may arise if the Assembly tries to force disclosures and Ibas or his backers resist, citing constitutional limits.
The transparency of the incoming administration under Fubara will likely be scrutinized closely, to see if there is follow-through on promises of accountability.

👉 To readers: In a democratic setup, transparency is non-negotiable. When large sums are involved and when governance is interrupted by measures like emergency rule, the public deserves to know how resources were used, even if the legal pathway is not clear.