New court documents have revealed details of how more than ₦302 billion was spent by the Rivers State Government within six months under the administration of former sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas.
The disclosures were made by the Rivers State Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in response to a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) at the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt.
The case, which is being heard by the court, seeks to ensure transparency over government spending during the period of emergency rule in the state between March and August 2025.
According to documents submitted to the court, Rivers State received over ₦253.48 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) within the period, alongside additional revenues of about ₦44.87 billion, bringing total inflows to approximately ₦298.35 billion.
However, the records show that total expenditures during the same period exceeded ₦302.35 billion, indicating spending above the total inflows.
The documents, which include bank statements and budget records, reveal that:
- Over ₦112.4 billion was spent on salaries, pensions, and overhead costs
- About ₦163.44 billion was allocated to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), with a large portion disbursed in August
- More than ₦26 billion went toward loan servicing and bank-related charges
The filings also highlighted multiple transfers to Government House, including several high-value transactions, some running into billions of naira.
Additionally, certain projects raised questions about execution levels. For example, while funds were approved for installations such as CCTV systems at the State House, no actual spending was recorded for that project.
Reacting to the disclosures, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the organization is reviewing the extensive documents to determine whether full compliance has been achieved or if further legal steps will be necessary.
He noted that the analysis would examine spending patterns project by project to ensure accountability.
The defendants, in their response, maintained that they have complied with the Freedom of Information Act by providing the requested documents and expressed no intention of withholding any information.
The matter has been adjourned to May 19, 2026, for further hearing.
The case continues to draw attention to issues of transparency and financial accountability in public administration within Rivers State.