Rivers FOA-induced statement of account

A Freedom of Information Act (FOA) court action seems to have forced a section of the books Rivers State open for once. Journalists are hardly engaged in budget analysis nor is the public debate every able to debate anything.

The annual budgets that use to contain all major figures in the days of Peter Odili and Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi now have little or no figures to warrant analyses. Now, the budget speeches just gloss over total federal allocation and then go to allocations without details on the supply side of the budget (income) let alone on IGR. At a point in the recent past, no details were offered on IGR. Journalists have been scratching. Nobody in government is every willing to explain anything.

Now, by the fate of FOA, it is now known how much was spent in six months of state of emergency. The week exploded with news of the State government revealing in court that the administration of Ibok-Ete Ibas, a vice admiral retired, spent more than N302 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and other sources between March and August 2025.

This was contained in a counter-affidavit filed by the Accountant-General and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in response to a FOI Act lawsuit brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

SERAP had filed the FOI suit, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, before the High Court of Rivers State in Port Harcourt, demanding details on the spending during the six-month emergency rule in the state.

The case, which is currently pending before Sika Aprioku, a justice, has been adjourned to May 19, 2026. On the day, it is obvious the court would be full of newsmen.

In the counter-affidavit filed on March 10, 2026, it was averred that Rivers received FAAC allocations totalling N253.4bn along with other receipts of N44.88bn, making the total inflow approximately N298.34bn.

Supporting documents—DT1 (bank statements) and DT2 (capital pages of Government House estimates)—show expenditures exceeding ₦302.35bn.

The counter-affidavit states, “Our records indicate that N28 billion was approved for CCTV installation at the State House; however, no expenses were incurred for the project, so that no supporting documents can be provided.

Saying the defendants did not wish to oppose the FOI Act summons, the government said they have compiled and provided the requested information as required by the Act.

“By supplying the requested documents, the Defendants/Respondents have largely fulfilled SERAP’s request.

“While acknowledging the importance of transparency and accountability, the Defendants/Respondents argue that the delay in providing the information did not cause any specific or proven harm to SERAP.” The figures showed many items with funds released but no documents to show the spending.

We pray henceforth, details of figures of budgets and accounts would be made public.