By Ayo Kehinde
The Rivers State Government has told the High Court in Port Harcourt that over ₦302 billion was spent within six months under the administration of former sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), offering detailed disclosures of how funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and other sources were utilised between March and August 2025.
The revelations were contained in a counter-affidavit filed by the Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) suit instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The suit, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is pending before Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku of the Rivers State High Court.
According to the affidavit dated March 10, 2026, “the FAAC allocations received by Rivers State between March and August 2025 were over ₦253 billion [₦253,480,052,907.33].”
The government also submitted supporting documents—Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of Government House estimates)—spanning 49 pages, detailing expenditures exceeding ₦300 billion.
Providing clarification on specific allocations, the affidavit stated: “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.”
The state government further emphasised its compliance with the FOI request, noting: “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.”
It added: “The Defendants/Respondents have now compiled and made available the requested information in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act… By furnishing the documents requested, the Defendants/Respondents have substantially complied with SERAP’s demand.”
On the delay in providing the documents, the affidavit stated: “While the Defendants/Respondents recognize the public interest in transparency and accountability, the delay in providing the requested information did not occasion any specific or proven injury to SERAP.”
Reacting to the disclosures, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the organisation is currently reviewing the documents in detail.
“We are studying the large documents on the spending of the over ₦302 billion [₦302,352,458,523.07] of FAAC allocations and other funds by the Rivers State government between March and August 2025,” he said.
He added: “Our teams are analysing the spending project-by-project and we will decide whether our requests for information have been fully complied with or whether a fresh request for information or an amendment to our originating processes is necessary.”
Offering preliminary insights, Oluwadare disclosed: “Rivers State received FAAC inflows of over ₦253.48 billion… and other receipts totalling over ₦44.87 billion… bringing the total funds received to approximately ₦298.35 billion.”
He further stated: “The two exhibits also show transfers to government entities, payments to individuals (NIP transfers), and repeated transfers to Government House… In total, over ₦302.35 billion was shown to have been spent during this period.”
According to him, the exhibits reveal multiple high-value transactions: “The exhibits reveal multiple payments to Government House ranging from ₦1.8 million to ₦4.27 billion… Notably, a single transfer of ₦4.27 billion was recorded in August.”
On expenditure breakdown, he said: “Over ₦112.41 billion… was reportedly spent on salaries, pensions, and overheads, while ₦163.44 billion was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).” He noted that “over ₦106 billion of the ₦163.44 billion allocated to MDAs was disbursed in August alone.”
Further details showed that “over ₦26.01 billion was reportedly spent to service loans, while over ₦491.59 million was spent on bank charges,” bringing total related costs to about ₦26.50 billion.
Highlighting discrepancies in capital projects, Oluwadare said: “Over ₦2.5 billion was released for the construction of Government House quarters, but only about ₦1.1 billion is reflected… A revised allocation of ₦2.67 billion was made for office building repairs, while about ₦404 million was spent.”
He added: “₦350 million is stated to be allocated for canteen and kitchen equipment… Over ₦463 million was shown to be spent on rehabilitation projects. A project initially budgeted at ₦800 million appeared to be increased to ₦1.56 billion.”
The documents also indicate that the closing balance in the state’s account as of August 2025 stood at ₦19.93 billion.
In the suit filed on October 31, 2025, SERAP is asking the court to determine “whether… it is not entitled to access and obtain the information sought from the Defendants/Respondents,” citing relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
The matter has been adjourned to May 19, 2026, for further hearing.
