The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has demanded transparency and accountability regarding the six-month administration of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), and alleged spending of over N302 billion received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
SERAP disclosed that the Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning told the High Court of Rivers State in Port Harcourt how Ibas allegedly spent over N302 billion received from FAAC allocations and other funds between March and August 2025.
The disclosures were made following a Freedom of Information lawsuit with suit number PHC/4153/CS/2025, filed at the High Court by SERAP, which sought transparency and accountability regarding the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State.
In a counter-affidavit dated March 10, 2026, and filed in response to SERAP’s lawsuit, the Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning stated that the FAAC allocations received by Rivers State between March and August 2025 were over N253 billion.
Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of the Government House estimate), filed in support of the counter-affidavit and comprising 49 pages, provide some details of government expenditures exceeding N300 billion, including FAAC allocations and other funds.
The counter-affidavit states: “Our records show that N28 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. Therefore, no document can be provided that evidences such expenditure.
“The defendants/respondents do not contest SERAP’s right to access information under the Freedom of Information Act and have no intention whatsoever of withholding the requested documents.”
Deputy Director, SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, noted that the organisation is studying the large documents on the spending of the over N302 billion of FAAC allocations and other funds by the Rivers State government between March and August 2025.
SERAP stated: “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.
“Our preliminary assessment of the two exhibits, Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of the Government House estimate), shows, among others, the following details:
“Rivers State received FAAC inflows of over N253.48 billion and other receipts totalling over N44.87 billion from March to August 2025, bringing the total funds received to approximately N298.35 billion.”
The body noted that the two exhibits also show transfers to government entities, payments to individuals (NIP transfers), and repeated transfers to the Government House during the period from March to August 2025, adding that in total, over N302.35 billion was shown to have been spent during this period.
