Tension in Rivers as Ibas, Assembly Battle Over 6-Month Spending Probe

• The Rivers Assembly has launched a probe into state finances during Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas’ six-month emergency rule
• Rivers state received over N254bn from FAAC between March and August 2025, mostly from oil derivation, but failed to publish its 2025 Budget Implementation Report
• Ibas dismissed the probe as a “fool’s errand,” arguing that since he was appointed by President Tinubu and supervised by the National Assembly

Port Hacourt, Rivers state – The Rivers state House of Assembly has resolved to probe the state’s finances during the six-month emergency rule overseen by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the former sole administrator of the state.

At its first sitting after the emergency period ended, the Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, said it would scrutinise spending from the consolidated revenue fund.

Specifically, the Assembly said it would investigate contracts awarded and other expenditure.

Rivers received over N254bn in six months

Findings revealed that Rivers state received N254.37bn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025.

An analysis of FAAC data showed that the bulk of the allocations came from the 13 per cent oil derivation, which contributed about 52.4 per cent of revenues.

Despite the large inflows, the state failed to publish its 2025 Budget Implementation Report, leaving citizens without details on how funds were spent, Vanguard reported.

Ibas kicks, says Assembly cannot probe him

Reacting, Ibas dismissed the Assembly’s move, stressing that the lawmakers lacked the authority to investigate his tenure since they did not appoint him.

Through his senior special adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, he said:

“When you say they were going to probe the tenure of the administrator, was it the Assembly that appointed the administrator? If you didn’t appoint the administrator, it goes to reason that you have certain limitations.”

Ibas: Probing me is probing Tinubu, National Assembly

Ibas argued that since he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu and supervised by the National Assembly, any probe into his tenure would effectively be a probe of both institutions, Punch reported.

“When you also reason that the administrator was supervised by the National Assembly, it goes without reason that when you decide to probe the administrator, you’re invariably saying that you will be probing the President and the National Assembly,” he added.

The former administrator further described the lawmakers’ move as futile.

“So, I wish them good luck with their plan and their probe. But you and I know that such an enterprise amounts to a fool’s errand,” Ibas declared.

Rivers: Atiku, Peter Obi speak out

Earlier, Legit.ng had reported that Nigerian opposition politicians Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, criticised President Tinubu even as the Nigerian leader restored democratic rule to Rivers state.

The presidential candidates, who stated that President Tinubu should not have suspended Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in the first place, stated that the recent action of the Nigerian leader should not be celebrated.

Responding through statements posted on their own respective official X (ex-Twitter) accounts, Messrs Obi and Atiku maintained that President Tinubu’s move on the political crisis in Rivers state was “unconstitutional.”.

Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng