The Rivers State Government has provided detailed explanations on how more than ₦302 billion was expended during the six-month administration of former Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), offering fresh insight into the state’s financial activities during the emergency rule period.
The disclosure was made before a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt as part of an ongoing legal suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which is seeking full transparency and accountability regarding the management of public funds within the period under review. The case, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is being presided over by Justice S.H. Aprioku.
According to documents submitted before the court by the Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the state received substantial allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025. The agencies disclosed that total FAAC inflows during the period amounted to over ₦253.48 billion.
In addition to these allocations, the state reportedly recorded other inflows totaling approximately ₦44.87 billion, bringing the total funds available within the six-month window to about ₦298.35 billion. However, total expenditure exceeded this amount, reaching over ₦302.35 billion, raising questions about the management and allocation of resources during the period.
To support its claims, the state government submitted comprehensive financial records, including bank statements, budgetary documents, and expenditure breakdowns, indicating its willingness to comply with legal processes and provide clarity on the matter.
A breakdown of the spending shows that a significant portion of the funds—over ₦112.41 billion—was utilized for salaries, pensions, and general overhead costs. This category represents one of the largest areas of expenditure, reflecting the government’s obligations to workers and retirees, as well as routine operational expenses.
Further analysis revealed that about ₦163.44 billion was disbursed to various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) within the state. Notably, more than ₦106 billion of this amount was released in August 2025 alone, suggesting a concentration of spending toward the end of the six-month period.
The documents also indicated that over ₦26 billion was used to service existing loan obligations, while bank charges during the period amounted to approximately ₦491 million. In addition, multiple financial transfers were made to the Government House, ranging from smaller payments in the tens of millions to significantly larger transactions running into billions of naira.
One of the most notable transactions highlighted in the records is a single transfer of ₦4.27 billion made in August, raising further scrutiny over the nature and purpose of such high-value disbursements. Other repeated transfers to the Government House included amounts such as ₦61.9 million, ₦122 million, ₦170 million, ₦389 million, ₦750 million, ₦850 million, and several instances of ₦900 million transactions within the same period.
Despite concerns over some allocations, the Rivers State Government clarified specific items contained in the records. It stated that ₦28 billion had been approved for the installation of a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system at the State House, but no actual expenditure was incurred for the project during the period in question.
“₦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,” the government explained in its court filing.
The government further emphasized that it does not intend to deny access to public information, noting that it fully recognizes SERAP’s rights under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. It stated that all requested documents have now been made available before the court in compliance with legal requirements.
“The Defendants/Respondents do not contest SERAP’s right to access information under the Freedom of Information Act and has no intention whatsoever of withholding the requested documents,” the filing read.
Reacting to the development, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, confirmed that the organisation has begun a thorough review of the documents submitted by the state government. He stated that the group is conducting a detailed analysis of the expenditures to determine whether the disclosures meet the transparency standards it is seeking.
“We are studying the large documents on the spending of the over ₦302 billion of FAAC allocations and other funds by the Rivers State government between March and August 2025,” Oluwadare said, adding that the review would be carried out on a project-by-project basis.
SERAP’s preliminary observations have already flagged several transactions, particularly repeated transfers to the Government House, as areas requiring further clarification. The organisation is also examining project allocations and actual disbursements to assess consistency and accountability.
Among the expenditures highlighted are funds earmarked for construction and rehabilitation projects. Records show that over ₦2.5 billion was approved for Government House quarters, although only about ₦1.1 billion appears to have been spent. Similarly, a revised sum of ₦2.67 billion was allocated for office repairs, with approximately ₦404 million recorded as actual expenditure.
Other allocations include an estimated ₦350 million for canteen and kitchen equipment, though details regarding actual disbursement remain unclear. Rehabilitation projects accounted for over ₦463 million, while one project initially budgeted at ₦800 million was later revised upward to ₦1.56 billion.
At the close of August 2025, the state’s financial records indicated a balance of approximately ₦19.93 billion, providing a snapshot of the government’s fiscal position at the end of the six-month administration.
The lawsuit filed by SERAP seeks judicial interpretation of whether the organisation is entitled to access such financial records under the Nigerian Constitution and the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The outcome of the case is expected to have broader implications for transparency and accountability in public financial management across the country.
Justice Aprioku has adjourned the matter until May 19, 2026, for further hearing, as both parties continue to present their arguments and review the submitted documents.
