Rivers State Spent ₦302bn Under Ibas in Six Months

The Rivers State government revealed that ₦302 billion was spent under the administration of former sole administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas from March to August 2025. This disclosure was made during a legal battle initiated by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which is pushing for full transparency regarding state finances during the emergency rule period.

The case, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, was heard by Justice S.H. Aprioku in Port Harcourt.

The Rivers State government reported receiving ₦253.48 billion from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) during this period, along with an additional inflow of ₦44.87 billion, totaling nearly ₦298.35 billion. However, total expenditures exceeded this amount, reaching ₦302.35 billion.

A significant portion of the spending, ₦112.41 billion, was allocated to salaries, pensions, and overhead costs. The lawsuit seeks a legal interpretation of whether SERAP is entitled to access the requested financial records, with the matter adjourned to May 19, 2026.