“I Acted for the President, Not You” — Ibas Tells Rivers Assembly, Rejects Probe

The immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has dismissed moves by the State House of Assembly to investigate government spending during his six-month tenure under emergency rule, insisting that he acted on behalf of President Bola Tinubu and not the lawmakers.

The Assembly, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, resolved at its first sitting after resuming from suspension to probe how state funds were managed during the emergency rule that ended on September 17. Records show that Rivers received more than ₦254 billion in allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee between March and August, with over half of the inflows derived from the state’s 13 per cent oil derivation entitlement.

Civil society organisations in the state have also demanded scrutiny of Ibas’ tenure, alleging mismanagement of public funds and pointing to stalled projects despite the huge inflows. Enefaa Georgewill, chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to establish a panel of inquiry, while Emma Obe of the Civil Liberties Organisation described the emergency administration as unconstitutional and lacking transparency.

But Ibas, speaking through his media aide Hector Igbikiowubu on Sunday, said the lawmakers had no authority to question him. He argued that since he was appointed by the President and supervised by the National Assembly, any attempt by the state legislature to probe his actions was misplaced. “If you didn’t appoint the administrator, it goes to reason that you have certain limitations,” Igbikiowubu said. He added that the Assembly’s plan amounted to probing the President and the National Assembly. “Such an enterprise amounts to a fool’s errand,” he declared.

Rivers State was placed under emergency rule on March 18 following months of political crisis between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which crippled governance in the state. The President suspended the governor, his deputy, and the Assembly, appointing Ibas to administer the state. The emergency rule ended after reconciliation between Wike and Fubara, leading to the return of elected officials.

Governor Fubara, who resumed duties on Sunday, attended a thanksgiving service in his hometown of Opobo where he thanked Rivers people for their prayers during the crisis. He urged continued support and unity, stressing that peace was essential for development in the oil-rich state.