The Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning have told the High Court of Rivers State in Port Harcourt how the government of former Rivers sole administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), allegedly spent over ₦302 billion received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations and other funds between March and August 2025.”
Modupe Asudo
The disclosures were made following the Freedom of Information lawsuit with suit number PHC/4153/CS/2025, filed at the High Court by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), seeking transparency and accountability regarding the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State.
The lawsuit is pending before Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku of the River State High Court, Port Harcourt.
In the counter-affidavit dated 10 March 2026 and filed in response to SERAP’s lawsuit, the Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning stated that “the FAAC allocations received by Rivers state between March and August 2025 was over ₦253 billion [₦253,480,052,907.33]”
Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of the Government House estimate), filed in support of the counter-affidavit and comprising 49 pages, provide some details of government expenditures exceeding ₦300 billion, including FAAC allocations and other funds.
The counter-affidavit, read in part: “Our records show that ₦28 billion was approved for the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the State House but no expenditure was incurred in respect of the project. Therefore, no document evidencing such expenditure can be provided.”
NOP NIGERIA
