Rivers State Authorities has opened up on how greater than ₦302 billion was spent through the six-month administration of former sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd).
The small print have been offered earlier than a Excessive Courtroom sitting in Port Harcourt, shedding mild on {financial} actions carried out between March and August 2025.
The disclosure got here as a part of a authorized battle initiated by the Socio-{Economic} Rights and Accountability Venture (SERAP), which is pushing for full transparency over the funds of the state through the emergency rule interval. The case, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is being heard by Justice S.H. Aprioku.
In paperwork filed earlier than the court docket, the Rivers State Accountant-Normal and the Ministry of Funds and {Economic} Planning said that “the FAAC allocations acquired by Rivers state between March and August 2025 was over ₦253 billion [₦253,480,052,907.33]”.
The companies additionally connected {financial} information, together with {bank} statements and funds paperwork, to help their claims.
Based on the filings, the state acquired extra inflows of about ₦44.87 billion throughout the identical interval, bringing the full funds obtainable to almost ₦298.35 billion. Nevertheless, complete spending exceeded this determine, reaching over ₦302.35 billion.
The paperwork revealed a breakdown of expenditures throughout a number of sectors. A good portion, over ₦112.41 billion, went into salaries, pensions, and basic overhead prices.
One other ₦163.44 billion was allotted to ministries, departments, and companies, with greater than ₦106 billion disbursed in August alone, indicating a heavy focus of spending inside that month.
Additional evaluation confirmed that over ₦26 billion was used to service current loans, whereas {bank} expenses accounted for about ₦491 million. The information additionally detailed a number of transfers to the Authorities Home, starting from small funds in hundreds of thousands to massive transactions working into billions. One of many highest single transfers recorded stood at ₦4.27 billion in August.
The federal government, nevertheless, clarified that “₦28 billion was permitted for the set up of Closed Circuit Tv (CCTV) on the State Home however no expenditure was incurred in respect of the venture. Due to this fact, no doc evidencing such expenditure will be supplied.”
It added that it doesn’t intend to disclaim entry to public info, stating that “the Defendants/Respondents don’t contest SERAP’s proper to entry info underneath the Freedom of Info Act and has no intention in any way of withholding the requested paperwork.”
The federal government maintained that it has now complied by offering the requested information in court docket.
Reacting to the event, SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare stated the organisation is fastidiously reviewing the paperwork submitted. “We’re learning the big paperwork on the spending of the over ₦302 billion [₦302,352,458,523.07] of FAAC allocations and different funds by the Rivers State authorities between March and August 2025,” he stated.
He added that the group is conducting an in depth, project-by-project evaluation to find out whether or not the knowledge supplied meets its request or if additional authorized steps could be required.
SERAP’s preliminary evaluation pointed to repeated transfers to Authorities Home, together with funds of ₦61.9 million, ₦122 million, ₦170 million, ₦389 million, ₦750 million, ₦850 million, and a number of ₦900 million transactions through the interval underneath evaluation.
Different expenditures highlighted embody funds launched for building and rehabilitation tasks. Over ₦2.5 billion was permitted for Authorities Home quarters, though solely about ₦1.1 billion seems to have been spent. Equally, a revised ₦2.67 billion was allotted for workplace repairs, with about ₦404 million mirrored as precise expenditure.
The paperwork additionally confirmed allocations for canteen and kitchen tools estimated at ₦350 million, although particulars of precise disbursement stay unclear. Rehabilitation works accounted for over ₦463 million, whereas one venture initially budgeted at ₦800 million was later elevated to ₦1.56 billion.
On the finish of August 2025, the state’s account reportedly had a closing steadiness of about ₦19.93 billion.
The lawsuit is searching for a authorized interpretation of whether or not SERAP is entitled to entry the requested {financial} information underneath related constitutional provisions and the Freedom of Info Act.
The matter has been adjourned to Could 19, 2026, for additional listening to.