Rivers funds: ICPC reviews petition against Ibas

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has confirmed receiving a petition demanding a probe into the handling of Rivers State federal allocations by the state’s former Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).

The petition, filed by civil rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, came days after Ibas ended his administration of the state on September 18.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Thursday in Abuja, ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, confirmed receipt of the petition, noting that it had been forwarded to the commission’s legal department for review.

“Yes, we have received the petition and will look at its merit. It has a process. We receive it at the registry, the chairman gets it, and he forwards it for a legal opinion,” he said.

Adeyanju’s September 23, 2025, petition was titled “Petition for the investigation into the financial expenditure of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), former Sole Administrator of Rivers State”.

The activist urged the ICPC to urgently investigate Ibas’s financial activities during his administration between March 18 and September 17, 2025.

Quoting official data from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Adeyanju claimed that Rivers State under Ibas’s control received a total of N283.3bn, excluding Internally Generated Revenue.

He explained that the figure comprised N36.6bn in local government allocations for January and February 2025, which had previously been withheld, and N246.7bn in state and local government allocations between March and June 2025.

Despite these massive inflows, Adeyanju alleged that there was little or no evidence of tangible development carried out by the administration.

“Aside from the cosmetic renovation and painting of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, the people of Rivers State saw no tangible projects or developmental efforts to justify the expenditure of such colossal sums,” the petition stated.

It also accused the administration of failing to publish the mandatory budget performance reports for the second quarter of 2025, while faulting Ibas’s position that he was only answerable to the President and the National Assembly.

“Disturbingly, the administration under Ibas failed to publish the mandatory budget performance reports for the second quarter of 2025. Equally troubling are recent statements credited to him, dismissing the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe his financial conduct. He insists that because he was appointed by the President and supervised by the National Assembly, he was only answerable to the President and the National Assembly,” Adeyanju stated.

The activist urged the ICPC to ascertain how the funds were applied, investigate possible acts of misappropriation or abuse of office, and hold Ibas accountable if wrongdoing is established.

“We trust in the commission’s mandate and commitment to combating corruption and safeguarding public resources, and we respectfully urge you to give this petition urgent attention,” he stated.

The PUNCH reports that last Wednesday, Ibas was in Aso Rock to meet President Bola Tinubu.

The closed-door meeting had the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, in attendance.

 The was three days after Ibas rejected calls by the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe spending during his six-month watch.

However, there was no official statement from the Presidency as to the purpose of last Wednesday’s meeting. (Punch)