Epelle Demands Accountability From Ibas Over Rivers Emergency Rule Funds

Civil society advocate, Jake Epelle has called on retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, former administrator of Rivers State during the six-month emergency rule, to account for funds expended while he held office.

President Bola Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers State earlier this year, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly.

Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed to oversee the affairs of the state during the period.

With the lifting of the emergency on Wednesday and the resumption of constitutional governance in Rivers, Epelle urged Ibas to provide a detailed breakdown of how public resources were managed.

“The people of Rivers State have endured enough hardship and deserve to know how their money was spent. Transparency and accountability must be the standard for all who manage public funds,” Epelle said.

He also expressed concerns about trust in some political actors whose actions contributed to the crisis that led to the emergency, warning that without proper disclosure, suspicions of mismanagement would persist.

The Rivers State House of Assembly reconvened on Thursday for its first sitting since the suspension, raising expectations that lawmakers may push for a formal review of the administrator’s stewardship.

Neither Ibas nor federal authorities have yet issued an official statement in response to Epelle’s demand.