By Ayo Kehinde
A civil society organization, the Coalition of Conscientious Citizens (3Cs), has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.), demanding that he publicly declare his assets.
President Bola Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the executive and legislative arms of government and appointing Ibas as administrator for an initial six-month period.
However, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Gabriel Nnaji, the coalition accused Ibas of depleting the state’s treasury within two weeks of assuming office.
The group urged the administrator to comply with Section 185(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates individuals elected as governors to declare their assets and liabilities before taking office.
While acknowledging that Ibas was appointed rather than elected, the coalition argued that public asset declaration was necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.
The statement read, “Our concerns have been heightened by reports suggesting that Rivers’ treasury has been bled dry within just two weeks of Ibas assuming office.
“It is especially alarming that the previously withheld local government allocations were swiftly disbursed despite the absence of any judicial ruling overturning their suspension.
“There are also indications that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s political appointees were suspended to prevent them from witnessing the large-scale looting of state resources under the sole administrator.”
The group further insisted that Ibas’ appointment by presidential fiat placed an additional burden on him to prove his financial integrity by publicly declaring his assets.
It warned, “We are giving Vice Admiral Ibas seven days to publicly declare his assets, failing which we shall activate legal measures to compel him to do so.
“We also place him on notice that the Coalition of Conscientious Citizens (3Cs) will be monitoring his tenure closely and ensuring that any misuse of Rivers State’s resources will be met with legal consequences.”
