Available records show that Rivers State received about N254.37 billion in federal allocations between March and August, with over half of the sum drawn from the 13 percent oil derivation fund.
Ibas Blasts Rivers Assembly Over Probe Plan, Describes Move As A “Fool’s Errand”
Former Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has dismissed the plan by the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe government spending during his six-month tenure, describing the move as a “fool’s errand.”
Ibas, who handed over power on September 17 following the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials, argued that the Assembly lacked the constitutional authority to investigate his stewardship since it neither appointed him nor supervised his administration.
Advertisement
To order your copy, send a WhatsApp message to +1 317 665 2180
The Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had during its first sitting after months of inactivity, resolved to scrutinize expenditure from the consolidated revenue fund, contract awards, and other financial activities under Ibas’ watch.
Available records show that Rivers State received about N254.37 billion in federal allocations between March and August, with over half of the sum drawn from the 13 percent oil derivation fund.
Responding through his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubu, Ibas insisted the lawmakers were chasing shadows.
“When you say they were going to probe the tenure of the administrator, was it the Assembly that appointed the administrator? The administrator was appointed by the president and supervised by the National Assembly. So, when they say they want to probe him, it means they are also probing the president and the National Assembly,” Igbikiowubu said.
He added that while the Assembly was free to carry out its functions, it must recognize its limitations.
“Nobody can stop lawmakers from probing what they perceive to be within their functions. But you and I know that such an enterprise amounts to a fool’s errand,” he stressed.
The six-month emergency rule in Rivers State was declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18 following a protracted political crisis between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Fubara. The order suspended all elected officials and vested administrative powers in Ibas until it was lifted last week.
