President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Rivers State Sole Administrator and ex–Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), for an ambassadorial posting—despite ongoing public outcry over allegations of financial misappropriation during his brief but controversial stewardship of the state.
The nomination appeared in a new list of non-career ambassadorial picks transmitted to the Senate on Thursday during plenary, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter urging lawmakers to fast-track confirmation.
Other nominees include former presidential aide Ita Enang; former Imo First Lady Chioma Ohakim; and former Interior Minister and retired Army Chief Abdulrahman Dambazau.
Tinubu’s latest batch follows an earlier list of 32 nominees—featuring former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, former minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and ex-presidential aide Reno Omokri—reflecting a broader diplomatic overhaul already drawing intense scrutiny.
A Nomination Wrapped in Controversy
The president’s selections arrive just weeks after public anger over a sweeping pardon granted to 175 convicts, further heightening political tensions around the administration’s approach to accountability and patronage.
Among the most vocal critics of Ibas’ nomination is prominent environmental and human-rights advocate Annkio Briggs, who has long accused the retired admiral of mishandling the state’s finances during his six-month tenure as sole administrator. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Briggs demanded a full accounting.
“He has squandered our funds,” Briggs said. “He must provide a thorough account to the people of Rivers State—and indeed to all Nigerians. You cannot take charge of our resources for six months and walk away as though nothing happened. He spent our money. That is a fact.”
Over ₦254 Billion in Six Months
An investigation by The PUNCH found that Rivers State received at least ₦254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025—precisely the period Ibas presided over the state under emergency rule. The figure, derived from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data and FAAC meeting documents, places Rivers among the country’s highest earners during the period.
Monthly inflows ranged from ₦38.42 billion to ₦44.66 billion, averaging ₦42.40 billion, with projections suggesting total receipts could approach ₦297 billion by September.
More than half of these revenues—₦133.24 billion, or 52.4 percent—came from the constitutionally guaranteed 13-percent oil derivation, underscoring Rivers’ vulnerability to oil-market volatility. In several months, derivation payments exceeded statutory allocations by nearly fivefold.
The state also received ₦107.78 billion in VAT revenue, alongside electronic money transfer levies, ecology funds, and exchange-rate gains. Yet heavy debt servicing—amounting to ₦26.31 billion over the six months—significantly reduced net disposable income.
The Missing Accountability Report
Despite the unprecedented inflows, Rivers State has not published its mandatory 2025 Budget Implementation Report, leaving citizens and civil society groups unable to track how billions of naira were spent on salaries, pensions, capital projects, or recurrent obligations. The opacity has fueled demands for an investigation into Ibas’ management of the state’s finances.
Growing Calls for a Probe
At an online policy forum hosted by NPO Reports and Iwadi Development Initiative, stakeholders reiterated the need for a full audit of the period between March and August 2025.
“The public deserves answers,” one speaker said. “The spending of ₦254.37 billion cannot be left unexplained.”
Ibas stepped down last week following the expiration of the emergency rule. Still, his nomination for an ambassadorial role ensures that the debate over accountability in Rivers State is far from over.
