Rivers Govt Discloses ₦302bn Spending Under Ibok-Ete Ibas as SERAP Pursues Transparency Case

Rivers Government has disclosed ₦302bn spending under Ibok-Ete Ibas as SERAP pursues transparency case.

 

NwsOnline Nigeria reports that the Rivers State Government has revealed that over ₦302 billion was spent between March and August 2025 during the administration of former sole administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, following a legal challenge by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.

 

The disclosures were made in a counter-affidavit filed by the state’s Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in response to a Freedom of Information suit before the High Court of Rivers State in Port Harcourt.

 

The case, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025 and presided over by Justice S.H. Aprioku, seeks to compel full transparency on government spending during the six-month emergency rule period.

 

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According to the affidavit dated March 10, 2026, Rivers State received over ₦253.48 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and an additional ₦44.87 billion from other sources, bringing total inflows to approximately ₦298.35 billion within the period.

 

Supporting documents filed as exhibits, including bank statements and budget records, show that total expenditures exceeded ₦302.35 billion, with funds disbursed across salaries, government agencies, infrastructure, and administrative costs.

 

The records indicate that over ₦112.4 billion was spent on salaries, pensions, and overheads, while ₦163.44 billion was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). Notably, more than ₦106 billion of MDA spending occurred in August alone, suggesting a heavy concentration of disbursements within a single month.

 

Loan servicing accounted for over ₦26 billion, alongside nearly ₦492 million spent on bank charges during the same period.

 

The documents also revealed multiple high-value transfers to Government House, ranging from millions to billions of naira, including repeated transactions of up to ₦900 million and a single transfer of ₦4.27 billion recorded in August.

 

In one instance, ₦28 billion was approved for the installation of CCTV at the State House, although no funds were ultimately spent on the project, according to the affidavit.

 

Other allocations included over ₦2.5 billion for Government House quarters of which about ₦1.1 billion was reportedly utilised and a revised ₦2.67 billion budget for office building repairs, with about ₦404 million spent. Additional expenditures covered canteen equipment, rehabilitation projects, and other capital works.

 

Despite initial delays, the state government said it has now complied with SERAP’s request by providing the relevant documents, insisting it has no intention of withholding information under the Freedom of Information Act.

 

Responding to the disclosures, SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the organisation is reviewing the extensive financial records to determine whether full compliance has been achieved or if further legal action is required.

 

The group noted that its preliminary analysis highlights significant spending patterns, including large transfers, uneven disbursements, and project allocations requiring closer scrutiny.

 

The court has adjourned the matter to May 19, 2026, for further hearing as the legal battle over transparency and accountability in Rivers State’s public finances continues.