The Rivers State government has disclosed details of over N302 billion spent during the period Ibok-Ete Ibas served as sole administrator, following a lawsuit filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The disclosure was made by the state accountant-general and the ministry of budget and economic planning before the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt.
The case, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is before Justice S. H. Aprioku.
In a counter-affidavit dated March 10, the state said it received over N253.48 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee between March and August 2025.
It said total receipts, including other revenues, stood at about N298.35 billion within the period.
Documents filed in court, including bank statements and capital expenditure records, showed that more than N302.35 billion was spent.
The affidavit stated that N28 billion was approved for the installation of closed circuit television at the Government House but no spending was recorded for the project.
It also said the state does not dispute SERAP’s right to request information and has provided the documents in line with the Freedom of Information Act.
According to the records, over N112.41 billion was spent on salaries, pensions and overheads, while N163.44 billion was allocated to ministries, departments and agencies. More than N106 billion of the allocation to agencies was released in August.
The documents also showed that N26.01 billion was used to service loans, while about N491.59 million was spent on bank charges.
They indicated multiple transfers to the Government House ranging from N1.8 million to N4.27 billion, including several payments of N900 million. A transfer of N4.27 billion was recorded in August.
The records further showed that over N2.5 billion was released for Government House quarters, with about N1.1 billion reflected as spending.
About N404 million was spent on office repairs out of a revised N2.67 billion allocation.
They also showed an allocation of N350 million for canteen and kitchen equipment and over N463 million spent on rehabilitation projects. A project initially put at N800 million was later increased to N1.56 billion.
The closing balance as of August 2025 was about N19.93 billion.
Speaking on the documents, SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said the group is reviewing the records.
“We are studying the documents on the spending of over N302 billion and analysing the details project by project,” he said.
He added that the organisation would decide whether further steps are needed after the review.
The suit seeks to determine whether SERAP is entitled to access the information under the constitution and the Freedom of Information Act.
The case was filed on October 31, 2025 and has been adjourned to May 19 for further hearing.
The spending took place during the period of emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State, when Ibas was appointed to oversee the state.
