Rivers In Sh*ck: Adeyanju Takes Ibas To ICPC Over ₦283 Billion Spending

A public interest law firm, led by human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging an urgent probe into the financial activities of the former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.).

In the petition addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Adeyanju’s firm stated that Rivers State received at least ₦283.3 billion under Ibas’ administration between March 18 and September 17, 2025, excluding Internally Generated Revenue.

Figures cited from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation show that this total included ₦36.6 billion in local government allocations for January and February 2025, previously withheld, and ₦246.7 billion in state and local government allocations between March and June 2025.

“Despite these massive inflows, there is little to no evidence of projects or tangible development carried out by his administration,” the petition alleged, noting that the only visible work appeared to be “cosmetic renovation and painting” of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.

The law firm further accused Ibas of failing to publish the mandatory budget performance reports for Q2 2025, in breach of transparency laws. It also condemned comments attributed to his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubu, which suggested the former administrator was not accountable to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Equally troubling are recent statements credited to him, dismissing the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe his financial conduct. He maintains that, because he was appointed by the President and supervised by the National Assembly, he was only answerable to them,” the petition read.

The firm called on the ICPC to investigate how the ₦283.3 billion was spent, determine if any misappropriation occurred, and hold Ibas accountable if wrongdoing is found.

“It is in light of the foregoing that we respectfully demand that the ICPC probe the financial expenditure of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), ascertain how the total amount of ₦283.3 billion was applied, and investigate whether any acts of misappropriation, diversion, or abuse of office occurred during this period,” the petition stated.

Ibas, a retired naval chief and former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021), was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025 as Sole Administrator of Rivers State following a state of emergency. His six-month tenure stirred controversy over its constitutionality and the concentration of executive powers in an unelected administrator. He handed over on September 17, 2025, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers House of Assembly were reinstated.