Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), demanding a probe into the alleged mismanagement of N283.3 billion received during the six-month tenure of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd) as Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
Adeyanju, through his public interest law firm, said the petition was driven by its commitment to accountability and the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
According to the document addressed to ICPC Chairman, the firm alleged that Rivers State received N283.3 billion between March 18 and September 17, 2025, under Ibas’ watch, excluding Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The breakdown of the inflows, sourced from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, included N36.6 billion in local government allocations for January and February 2025 that had earlier been withheld, and N246.7 billion in state and local government allocations between March and June 2025.
Despite the massive allocations, Adeyanju’s firm alleged that residents of Rivers State “saw little or no evidence of tangible development” throughout Ibas’ tenure.
The petition partly read, “Aside from the cosmetic renovation and painting of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, there is nothing on ground to justify the expenditure of such colossal sums.”
The law firm further accused the ex-administrator of failing to release the mandatory budget performance reports for the second quarter of 2025, thereby violating statutory transparency requirements.
It also criticised Ibas for allegedly dismissing the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly to scrutinise his administration, citing comments credited to his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubu.
Adeyanju urged the ICPC to probe the administration, trace how the N283.3 billion was applied, and establish whether acts of misappropriation or diversion occurred.
The petition demanded that, “If any such acts are uncovered, Ibas should be held accountable in line with the law.”
Ibas was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025 as Sole Administrator after a political crisis paralysed governance in Rivers State and stalled the operations of its House of Assembly.
His appointment, which lasted until September 17, 2025, generated nationwide controversy over the legality of concentrating executive powers in an unelected official.
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