The Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning have disclosed before a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt how the administration of former Rivers sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), allegedly spent more than ₦302 billion received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and other sources between March and August 2025.
The revelations followed a Freedom of Information lawsuit (suit number PHC/4153/CS/2025) filed at the High Court by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which is seeking transparency and accountability regarding the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State.
The case is currently before Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku of the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt.
In a counter-affidavit dated 10 March 2026, submitted in response to SERAP’s suit, the Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning stated that Rivers State received ₦253,480,052,907.33 in FAAC allocations between March and August 2025.
Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of the Government House estimate), filed in support of the counter-affidavit and comprising 49 pages, provide some details of government expenditures exceeding ₦300 billion, including FAAC allocations and other funds.
The counter-affidavit stated in part: “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 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 Defendants/Respondents have now compiled and made available the requested information in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, and copies are herein attached as Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of the Government House estimate).
“By furnishing the documents requested, the Defendants/Respondents have substantially complied with SERAP’s demand.
“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,” it said.
SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said, “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.
“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.
“Our preliminary assessment of the two exhibits—Exhibit DTI (bank statements) and Exhibit DT2 (capital pages of the Government House estimate)—show, among other others, the following details: Rivers State received FAAC inflows of over ₦253.48 billion (₦253,480,052,907.33) and other receipts totalling over ₦44.87 billion (₦44,868,976,368.32) from March to August 2025, bringing the total funds received to approximately ₦298.35 billion (₦298,349,029,275.65).”
He said the two exhibits presented show transfers to government entities, payments to individuals (NIP transfers), and repeated transfers to Government House between March and August 2025, with total spending exceeding ₦302.35 billion during this period.
According to him, the records indicate multiple payments to Government House ranging from ₦1.8 million to ₦4.27 billion, including transactions of ₦61.9 million, ₦122 million, ₦170 million, ₦389 million, ₦750 million, ₦850 million, and ₦900 million, with the ₦900 million payments occurring repeatedly.
A single transfer of ₦4.27 billion was recorded in August.
Over ₦112.41 billion (₦112,408,021,641.07) was reportedly spent on salaries, pensions, and overheads, while ₦163.44 billion (₦163,441,654,922.70) was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). Of this MDA allocation, more than ₦106 billion was disbursed in August alone, highlighting a significant concentration of spending within that month.
Additionally, over ₦26.01 billion (₦26,011,189,540.73) was reportedly used to service loans, while over ₦491.59 million (₦491,592,418.57) was spent on bank charges, bringing total expenditures for these items to approximately ₦26.50 billion (₦26,502,781,959.30) during the same period.
“Over ₦2.5 billion was released for the construction of Government House quarters, but only about ₦1.1 billion is reflected in the exhibits as actual spending. The exhibits show a revised allocation of ₦2.67 billion for office building repairs, while about ₦404 million was spent,” he said.
“₦350 million is stated to be allocated for canteen and kitchen equipment. It is unclear from the exhibits how much was released for the project. 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 closing balance in the account as at August 2025 was ₦19,929,707,462.66,” he added.
In the lawsuit, SERAP is seeking a determination on whether, under the combined provisions of Sections 13, 15(5), 16(2), and 39 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and Sections 1(1), 2(3)(d)(v), 2(4), and 4(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, it is entitled to access the information requested from the defendants/respondents.
The case, filed by SERAP on October 31, 2025 against the Accountant-General of Rivers State and the Rivers State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, is currently pending before Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku of the Rivers State High Court.
The matter has been adjourned to May 19, 2026 for further hearing.
