Over ₦302 billion was spent while Ibok-Ete Ibas was the state’s only administrator, according to the Rivers State Government.
The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt heard the disclosure from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Rivers State Accountant-General.
In response to a Freedom of Information complaint brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, the information was made available.
The lawsuit, designated PHC/4153/CS/2025, is presently pending before Rivers State High Court Judge S.H. Aprioku.
The state received more than ₦253.48 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee between March and August 2025, according to a counter-affidavit dated March 10, 2026.
The affidavit further stated that about N298.35 billion in total monies, including other revenues, were received over the period.
The Government House estimate’s capital spending records and bank statements were submitted as supporting documentation.
Exhibit DTI and Exhibit DT2 are two of the 49-page documents.
Although N28 billion was authorized for the installation of closed-circuit television cameras at the Government House, no money was ultimately spent on the project, according to the declaration.
The affidavit added, “Our records show that ₦28 billion was approved for the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the State House, but no expenditure was incurred in respect of the project.”
“Therefore, no document proving such expenditure can be presented.”
Additionally, according to the state government, SERAP’s authority to obtain information under the Freedom of Information Act was not contested.
The affidavit stated, “The Defendants/Respondents do not contest SERAP’s right to access information under the Freedom of Information Act and has no intention whatsoever of withholding the requested documents.”
In compliance with the Freedom of Information Act’s provisions, the defendants/respondents have now assembled and made the requested information public.
“The Defendants/Respondents have substantially complied with SERAP’s demand by providing the documents requested.”
According to SERAP, it is presently examining the materials that the Rivers State Government supplied.
The organization’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that the records showed spending of almost N302 billion during that time.
“We are studying the large documents on the spending of the Rivers State government between March and August 2025 of the over ₦302 billion in FAAC allocations and other funds,” stated Oluwadare.
“Our teams are analyzing the spending project-by-project, and we will determine whether our information requests have been fully complied with or whether a new information request or modification to our original procedures is required.”
N112.41 billion was spent on salaries, pensions, and overhead, according to SERAP’s figures.
A further ₦163.44 billion was allotted to ministries, departments, and organizations; in August 2025 alone, about ₦106 billion was purportedly distributed.
Additionally, the documents revealed that ₦491.59 million was spent on bank fees and ₦26.01 billion was used for loan servicing.
Furthermore, although approximately ₦1.1 billion was reported as real spending, over ₦2.5 billion was released for the construction of Government House quarters.
A revised budget of ₦2.67 billion for office building repairs was also shown in the records, with roughly ₦404 million spent on the project.
Over ₦463 million was spent on restoration projects, while an additional ₦350 million was allotted for kitchen and canteen equipment.
The project’s initial budget of ₦800 million was eventually boosted to ₦1.56 billion, according to the records.
The documents also showed that as of August 2025, the account’s closing balance was ₦19.93 billion.
SERAP is requesting that the court rule on whether the Freedom of material Act and the Constitution grant it access to the material.
On October 31, 2025, the organization brought legal action against the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Rivers State Accountant-General.
The matter was postponed by Justice Aprioku until May 19, 2026, for a subsequent hearing.
President Bola Tinubu proclaimed a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, in response to an extended political conflict.
Additionally, all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu, were suspended by the president for a first six months.
After that, Tinubu named retired navy chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s only administrator.
On September 17, 2025, the emergency rule expired, and Fubara was instructed to return to work the next day.
The state assembly met again and decided to look into how the state’s finances were handled during the emergency.
The Rivers Assembly’s decision, however, was rejected by Ibas.
