Former Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has dismissed the Rivers State House of Assembly’s decision to probe the state’s finances during his six-month tenure, describing the move as fool’s errand.
”Ibas, who relinquished office on September 17 following the expiration of the emergency rule, argued that the lawmakers lacked the authority to investigate him since his appointment came directly from President Bola Tinubu and his activities were supervised by the National Assembly.
Through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, Ibas maintained that any probe into his tenure would amount to questioning both the President and the National Assembly.
“When you say they are going to probe the tenure of the administrator, was it the Assembly that appointed the administrator? If you didn’t appoint him, you have certain limitations,” Igbikiowubu said. “Such an enterprise amounts to a fool’s errand.”
The Rivers Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had earlier resolved to investigate all expenditure from the consolidated revenue fund during the six-month emergency rule. Findings by The PUNCH showed the state received at least ₦254.37bn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August under Ibas.
Civil society groups have also called for a full inquiry, alleging mismanagement of public funds and stalled projects despite the huge allocations.