By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Nigerians are closely watching President Bola Tinubu as he weighs his next move over allegations against Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd), the immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State, in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region.
As pressure mounts on Tinubu to act, a public interest law firm led by human rights lawyer, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), calling for a probe into the financial activities of Ibas during his six-month tenure.
In the petition, signed by Adeyanju and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, the firm said its request was in line with its commitment to accountability and the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“We are a public interest litigation law firm, committed to the advancement of human rights, accountability in government, and the fight against corruption in Nigeria,” the petition seen by Heritage Times HT read.
“It is in furtherance of this mission and in the interest of justice that we respectfully write to formally petition the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to urgently investigate the financial activities of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd), the former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, during his tenure between March 18 and September 17, 2025,” the petition adds.
Citing data from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the petition claimed that Rivers State received a total of N283.3 billion under Ibas’ control, excluding Internally Generated Revenue.
“This figure comprised N36.6 billion as local government allocations for January and February 2025, which had earlier been withheld, and N246.7 billion as state and local government allocations between March and June 2025.
“Despite these massive inflows, there is little to no evidence of projects or tangible development carried out by his administration,” the petition stated.
“Aside from the cosmetic renovation and painting of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, the people of Rivers State have seen no tangible projects or developmental strides to justify the expenditure of such colossal sums”.
Echoing similar concerns, Nigerian media executive Emeka Mba also faulted the former Sole Administrator’s handling of funds.
“Data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics, shows that Rivers state under vice Admiral Ibas Ete, received in 6 Months, between March and August 2025, an astonishing 254.36 Billion of Federal Allocation.
“A breakdown of the figures are as follows: March: N44.66 billion, April: N44.42 billion, May: N42.80 billion, June: N42.30 billion, July: N38.42 billion, August: N41.76 billion.
“Within this same period, the state received an estimated IGR of 27Billion per month, a sum total of 162 Billion Naira when multiplied by 6 months.
“If you add both figures, it amounts to a staggering 416.36 Billion in Revenue in just 6 months,” MBA wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Mba alleged that “within this period, available evidences shows that, Contracts were awarded, Arbitrary withdrawals were made from Rivers state coffers, funds were disbursed by Ibas, and all done in utmost secrecy, hidden from public view, and yet no visible project was seen in any part of the state, by the people of Rivers state”.
He further condemned what he described as a compromise of the Rivers State House of Assembly:
“But, most concerning to me, was the purchase and receipt of brand new 2025 Land cruiser jeeps for each member of the Rivers state house of Assembly. This purchase was not captured in the Rivers state budget which Ibas submitted to the National Assembly.
“Each of the land cruiser Prado jeeps received by the Rivers Assembly members is priced at a minimum of 150Million a piece. Multiplied by 27 members is in excess of 4 billion Naira. Ibas effectively bought their silence.
“He played a deft chess masterclass on them, and shut them up. Little wonder he had the audacity to dismissed their call for probe as a f00ls errand. He believes rightly so, that they have been adequately compensated and so has no moral latitude to ask questions”.
Mba added: “This is not something to be swept under the carpet and I thank people like Barr Deji Adeyanju who has taken it upon himself to petition ICPC to demand accountability. Rivers funds cannot just develop wings in a state where many cannot afford decent meals. And all we can do is demand that the right thing be done”.
The law firm also accused Ibas of flouting transparency rules. “Disturbingly, the administration under Ibas failed to publish the mandatory budget performance reports for the second quarter of 2025,” it said.
“Equally troubling are recent statements credited to him (through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu), dismissing the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe his financial conduct.
“He insists that because he was appointed by the President and ‘supervised by the National Assembly,’ he was only answerable to the President and the National Assembly,” the petition added.
The firm urged ICPC to establish how the N283.3 billion was applied and whether misappropriation, diversion, or abuse of office occurred.
“We trust in the Commission’s mandate and commitment to combating corruption and safeguarding public resources, and we respectfully urge you to give this petition urgent attention,” it stressed.
Ibas Summoned
Amid the growing calls for accountability, President Tinubu on Wednesday summoned Ibas to the State House in Abuja. The retired naval chief, who served as Rivers Sole Administrator during the emergency rule period, arrived at about 5:50 p.m.
Also spotted at the villa were Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Wale Edun, Minister of Finance, though the agenda of the meeting was not disclosed.
Ibas, who left office on September 17, has already come under scrutiny from the Rivers State House of Assembly, which resolved to investigate his management of state finances. He has, however, dismissed the Assembly’s authority to probe his tenure.
Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers State on March 18, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State Assembly, and appointed Ibas as Sole Administrator. The emergency expired on September 17, with Fubara directed to return the next day.
Now, as anti-graft bodies weigh their options and political pressure mounts, Nigerians await Tinubu’s verdict on the allegations swirling around Ibas’ six-month stewardship.
