Former Rivers State sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has dismissed moves by the state House of Assembly to investigate the management of funds during his six-month rule.
The Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, last week resolved to scrutinise state expenditure under the emergency administration imposed by President Bola Tinubu in March. Lawmakers said they would review spending from the consolidated revenue fund, contract awards, and other financial commitments.
During Ibas’ tenure, Rivers received more than N254bn from the Federation Account between March and August, according to FAAC data. Civil society groups have questioned how the funds were spent, accusing his administration of opacity and neglecting key projects despite the huge inflows.
But Ibas, speaking through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, said the Assembly lacked the authority to probe him since he was appointed by the President and supervised by the National Assembly.
“When you say they want to probe the administrator, was it the Assembly that appointed him?” he asked. “If the administrator was appointed by the President and supervised by the National Assembly, then probing him amounts to probing both. It’s a fool’s errand.”
He added that lawmakers, having been on suspension for six months, were only trying to justify their return by launching what he described as “mere commentary.”
The face-off raises fresh tension as Rivers returns to democratic governance under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, with civil society organisations insisting on full accountability for the state’s finances.
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