adminCourt documents have revealed that Rivers State, under the administration of former sole administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), reportedly spent more than ₦302 billion between March and August 2025. This information came to light following a Freedom of Information (FOI) lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The case, numbered PHC/4153/CS/2025, is currently before Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku at the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt. SERAP is seeking transparency and accountability regarding the six-month emergency rule in the state.
In a counter-affidavit dated March 10, 2026, submitted by the Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, it was disclosed that the state received ₦253,480,052,907.33 in FAAC allocations during the period, along with additional receipts totaling ₦44,868,976,368.32, bringing total funds to approximately ₦298.35 billion.
The documents, submitted as Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of the Government House estimate), outline government expenditures exceeding ₦300 billion. Notably, ₦28 billion was approved for the installation of CCTV cameras at the State House, but no spending on the project was recorded.
According to the counter-affidavit:
. ₦112.41 billion was spent on salaries, pensions, and overheads.
. ₦163.44 billion was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), with over ₦106 billion disbursed in August alone.
. ₦26.01 billion was used to service loans, alongside ₦491.59 million spent on bank charges.
. Over ₦2.5 billion was earmarked for Government House quarters construction, though only ₦1.1 billion was reportedly spent.
. Other allocations included ₦2.67 billion for office building repairs (with ₦404 million spent) and ₦350 million for canteen and kitchen equipment, though the exact expenditure is unclear.
Rehabilitation projects showed spending of over ₦463 million, despite an initial budget of ₦800 million, later increased to ₦1.56 billion.
The account’s closing balance as of August 2025 was ₦19,929,707,462.66.
SERAP is asking the court to determine whether it has the right to access this information under Sections 13, 15(5), 16(2), and 39 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), and Sections 1(1), 2(3)(d)(v), 2(4), and 4(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
The lawsuit, filed on October 31, 2025, is against the Accountant-General of Rivers State and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The next hearing is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
