The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has acknowledged receiving a petition seeking an investigation into the management of Rivers State federal allocations under the former Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).
The petition, submitted by civil rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, was filed on September 23, just days after Ibas completed his tenure on September 18. Confirming the development in Abuja on Thursday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare said the petition had been forwarded to the commission’s legal department for review.
“Yes, we have received the petition and will look at its merit. It has a process—once received, the chairman forwards it for a legal opinion,” Bakare explained.
Adeyanju’s petition alleged that Rivers State received N283.3 billion during Ibas’s administration between March and September 2025, excluding Internally Generated Revenue. He claimed the figure included N36.6 billion in previously withheld local government funds for January and February, as well as N246.7 billion in federal allocations for March to June.
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Despite these inflows, Adeyanju argued that little or no meaningful projects were delivered, citing only cosmetic renovations at the State House of Assembly. He further faulted the administration for failing to publish the mandatory second-quarter budget performance report, while criticizing Ibas’s claim that he was accountable only to the President and National Assembly.
The activist urged the ICPC to investigate possible mismanagement or abuse of office and ensure accountability.
