BREAKING: EFCC Chairman Storms Aso Rock As Tinubu Summons Ex-Rivers’ Administrator Ibas Amid ₦254 Billion Expenditure Controversy
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede was seen at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during President Tinubu’s meeting with former Rivers Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd).
Ibas, who was appointed during a state of emergency in Rivers amid political challenges, recently completed his term. During his tenure, Rivers State benefited significantly, receiving over N254.37 billion from the Federation Account.
The anti-graft chief arrived around the same time President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd), the immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
Ibas, who was appointed by President Tinubu during the height of the political crisis in Rivers, oversaw the oil-rich state for a brief period.
The appointment followed nearly two years of political turmoil between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.
After attempts to resolve the political impasse failed, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on 18 March 2025, appointing Ibas as sole administrator.
Two days later, both chambers of the National Assembly endorsed the declaration, effectively suspending Fubara, his deputy, and the members of the Rivers state House of Assembly.
Ibas handed over last week, and Fubara resumed control of the state.
Following his departure, some stakeholders called for an investigation into Ibas’ administration, accusing him of failing to improve infrastructure during his short tenure, Daily Trust reported.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, announced during its first plenary after the emergency rule ended that it would investigate state expenditures during the six-month period.
A resolution stated the need “to explore the process of knowing what transpired during the emergency rule with regard to spending from the consolidated revenue fund for the award of contracts and other expenditure.”
Between March and August 2025, Rivers State received at least N254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee while under Ibas’ administration, Vanguard reported.
Also sighted at the Presidential Villa was Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. It remains unclear whether Olukoyede and Edun were at the Villa specifically regarding the Rivers state issue.
