The Rivers government says more than N302 billion was spent by the administration of Ibok-Ete Ibas, during his stint as sole administrator of the state.
The disclosure was made by the Rivers state accountant-general and the ministry of budget and economic planning at the high court of Rivers state in Port Harcourt.
The information was presented in response to a freedom of information lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The suit, marked P H C / 4 1 5 3 / C S / 2 0 2 5, is pending before S.H. Aprioku, judge of the Rivers state high court. According to a counter affidavit dated March 10, 2026, the state received over N253.48 billion from the federation account allocation committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025.
The affidavit said the total funds received during the period, including other revenues, amounted to about N298.35 billion.
Documents attached as evidence include bank statements and capital expenditure pages of the government house estimate.
The documents, marked exhibit DTI and exhibit DT2, run into 49 pages.
“Our records show that N28 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,” the affidavit reads.
“Therefore, no document evidencing such expenditure can be provided.”
The affidavit added that the state government did not contest SERAP’s right to access information under the Freedom of Information Act.
“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 said.
“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.”
Documents Review
Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director of SERAP, said the organisation is reviewing the documents detailing the expenditure.
“We are studying the large documents on the spending of the over N302 billion of FAAC allocations and other funds by the Rivers State government between March and August 2025,” Oluwadare said.
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