Rivers Sole Administrator Faces Pressure to Disclose Assets Amid Looting Allegations

A civil society coalition has called on Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), the sole administrator of Rivers State, to publicly declare his assets, warning that failure to do so could result in legal action.

The Coalition of Conscientious Citizens (3Cs) made this demand during a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, March 30, 2025, citing concerns over transparency and alleged financial mismanagement in the state.

Their call comes in the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly for six months.

Dr. Gabriel Nnaji, Executive Director of 3Cs, argued that Ibas’s refusal to declare his assets violates Section 185(1) of the Constitution, which mandates asset disclosure before assuming office. He warned that a lack of transparency could facilitate self-enrichment at the state’s expense.

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“Our concerns have been heightened by reports suggesting that Rivers State’s coffers have been depleted in under two weeks of the sole administrator’s tenure,” Nnaji stated. He further alleged that Governor Fubara’s political appointees were suspended to prevent them from witnessing large-scale looting.

The coalition has given Ibas seven days to publicly declare his assets or face legal action. They also pledged to closely monitor his tenure, ensuring that any misuse of state resources is met with legal consequences.

“Given that Vice Admiral Ibas does not have the mandate of Rivers State electorates, he has an additional responsibility to be transparent by declaring his assets,” Nnaji emphasized. “This will ensure he does not exploit his position for personal gain.”

The coalition’s demand has intensified debates over governance and transparency in Rivers, increasing pressure on the sole administrator to respond to growing concerns.