The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed receiving a petition seeking 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, was submitted on September 23, 2025, barely five days after Ibas completed his controversial six-month stewardship as the federal-appointed administrator of Rivers State.
ICPC Acknowledges Petition
ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, confirmed the development, stating that the commission has begun internal processes 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,” Bakare said, noting that the legal department will examine the petition before further action is taken.
Allegations of Mismanagement
In the petition titled “Petition for the investigation into the financial expenditure of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), former Sole Administrator of Rivers State”, Adeyanju urged the anti-graft agency to investigate what he described as opaque financial practices during Ibas’s administration from March 18 to September 17, 2025.
Citing official figures from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Adeyanju alleged that Rivers State under Ibas received N283.3 billion in allocations, excluding internally generated revenue. This amount reportedly comprised N36.6 billion in local government funds earlier withheld for January and February 2025, and N246.7 billion in state and local government allocations between March and June 2025.
Despite these massive inflows, the activist claimed that Rivers people saw little or no tangible projects to reflect the scale of funds received.
“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 read.
Accountability Questions Raised
Adeyanju also faulted the Ibas administration for allegedly failing to publish the mandatory budget performance reports for the second quarter of 2025, in violation of fiscal transparency rules.
Equally troubling, according to the activist, were statements credited to Ibas, in which he dismissed the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly to scrutinize his financial dealings.
“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 noted.
Call for Investigation
The activist urged the ICPC to urgently 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,” Adeyanju stated.
Background
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State in March 2025 following political and legal disputes that crippled governance in the state. His tenure ended on September 18, 2025, after a Supreme Court ruling paved the way for the resumption of full constitutional governance.
The petition to the ICPC has now reopened public debate over transparency and accountability in the management of federal allocations during the period of sole administration, with observers awaiting the commission’s next steps.
