Ibas Ete Rejects Audit, Asserts Rivers Assembly Lacks Authority to Investigate ₦297 Billion Expenditure

Former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), has reportedly refused to submit himself for audit by the Rivers State House of Assembly, claiming they have no legal authority to investigate how he managed nearly ₦297 billion in state funds during his six months in office.

The claim was confirmed by Punch Newspapers, which cited sources within the Assembly and government circles.

Ete, who served as Sole Administrator from March to September, was summoned by lawmakers after questions arose over how such a massive sum was spent in just half a year. The Assembly launched what it called a “routine oversight exercise,” but Ete pushed back hard.

In a statement shared with associates and later confirmed to Punch Newspaper, Ete said:

“The Rivers State House of Assembly does not have the constitutional or legal power to audit or investigate how funds were managed under the executive arm. That responsibility lies with the Auditor-General and other statutory bodies not lawmakers playing detective.”

He added that he acted “within the bounds of the law and under the direction of the President’s office,” and suggested the probe was politically motivated.

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The Assembly, however, isn’t backing down. Lawmakers argue that under Section 125 of the Nigerian Constitution and the State’s Financial Management Law, they have the right and duty to oversee how public money is spent.

No formal charges or allegations of corruption have been filed yet. But the refusal to cooperate has raised eyebrows across the state, where many citizens are already struggling with unpaid salaries, poor infrastructure, and rising costs.

Civil society groups are now calling for the State Auditor-General and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to step in, if only to clear the air.

For now, Ete remains firm: he won’t appear before the Assembly. And the Assembly remains firm: they won’t let it go.