Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, on Wednesday evening visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ibas arrived at approximately 5:50 p.m., dressed in brown native attire and carrying several files. His visit came shortly before the arrival of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
Also sighted at the Villa was the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, further fueling public interest in the purpose of the meeting.
The visit by Ibas comes amid growing public scrutiny and calls for accountability over his six-month tenure as administrator of the oil-rich state, which ended on September 17, following the expiration of emergency rule. His exit came as President Bola Tinubu reinstated the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
State Assembly to probe Ibas’ tenure
Following the reinstatement of democratic governance, the Rivers State House of Assembly, under Speaker Martin Amaewhule, announced its intent to investigate government spending during the period Ibas served as sole administrator.
The Assembly stated that the inquiry would help ensure transparency and determine how public funds were managed during the six-month emergency administration.
On September 18, human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, urged President Tinubu and the National Assembly to make public a full report of Ibas’ activities during his tenure. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Adegboruwa emphasized that, as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest states, Rivers deserved a detailed account of how its resources were utilized.
Three days later, prominent Niger Delta activist Ann-Kio Briggs also weighed in, stressing that residents of the state had a right to know the terms of the agreement between Governor Fubara and President Tinubu that led to the end of the emergency rule. She warned that without full disclosure, Fubara’s credibility could come under question.
Similarly, Jake Epelle, CEO of TAF Africa, called on Vice Admiral Ibas to publicly account for funds spent and decisions made during his time as administrator, noting that transparency was key to restoring public trust.
