Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas has rejected the Rivers State House of Assembly’s bid to probe his six-month emergency rule expenditures, insisting the Assembly lacks the mandate to investigate someone appointed by the President.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has resolved to investigate expenditure by the state during the six-month emergency rule under Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), specifically focusing on spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the awarding of contracts, and other expenditures.
Rivers State received approximately ₦254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025, with average monthly allocations of about ₦42.40 billion. The breakdown shows large inflows via the 13 per cent oil derivation, which accounted for over half of the FAAC allocations.
Civil society organisations have called for greater transparency, questioning how the revenues were utilised, especially as major projects remain stalled and the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex is unfinished.
In response, Ibas has rejected the Assembly’s probe, arguing that the lawmakers lack authority to investigate him since he was appointed by the President, not by the Assembly. He described the attempt as a “commentary” and “a fool’s errand.”