Deji Adeyanju Petitions ICPC to Probe Admiral Ibas’ ₦283.3bn Dealings

A human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who heads a public interest law firm, has submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The petition calls for an immediate investigation into the financial dealings of the former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.).

In the petition, which was signed by Adeyanju and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, the firm alleged that Rivers State received at least ₦283.3 billion under Ibas’ leadership between March 18 and September 17, 2025, excluding internally generated revenue.

According to data cited from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the amount included ₦36.6 billion in local government allocations for January and February 2025, previously withheld, as well as ₦246.7 billion in state and local government allocations between March and June 2025.

“Despite these huge inflows, there is little or no evidence of projects or tangible development executed by his administration,” the petition alleged, noting that the only visible work was the “cosmetic renovation and painting” of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.

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The law firm also accused Ibas of failing to publish mandatory budget performance reports for the second quarter of 2025, describing it as a breach of transparency laws. It further criticised statements attributed to his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubu, which suggested that Ibas was not accountable to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Equally troubling are his recent comments dismissing the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe his financial conduct. He maintains that because he was appointed by the President and supervised by the National Assembly, he was only answerable to them,” the petition stated.

The firm called on the ICPC to investigate how the ₦283.3bn was spent, determine whether there was any misappropriation or diversion of funds, and hold Ibas accountable if wrongdoing is established.

Ibas, a retired naval chief and former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021), was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025 as Sole Administrator of Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency. His six-month tenure drew criticism over its constitutionality and the concentration of executive powers in an unelected administrator. He handed over on September 17, 2025, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers House of Assembly were reinstated.