Court documents have revealed that over ₦302 billion was spent by the Rivers State Government within six months under former Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, following a Freedom of Information lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
The disclosures were made in a counter-affidavit submitted by the state’s Accountant-General and Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning before the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt. The case, presided over by Justice S.H. Aprioku, stems from SERAP’s demand for transparency over spending during the six-month emergency administration between March and August 2025.
According to the documents, the state received over ₦253.48 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) within the period, alongside additional inflows of about ₦44.87 billion from other sources, bringing total receipts to approximately ₦298.35 billion.
However, total expenditures reportedly exceeded ₦302.35 billion, covering salaries, pensions, overheads, loan servicing, and allocations to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). Notably, more than ₦112.4 billion was spent on salaries and overheads, while over ₦163.4 billion went to MDAs.
The records also revealed multiple high-value transfers to Government House, ranging from millions to billions of naira, including a single transaction of ₦4.27 billion in August. Loan servicing alone accounted for over ₦26 billion, while bank charges exceeded ₦491 million.
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that the organisation is currently analysing the documents to determine whether full compliance has been achieved or if further legal action will be necessary.
The case has been adjourned to May 19, 2026, for further hearing, as the court continues to examine the financial disclosures and issues surrounding transparency and accountability in the state’s spending.
