PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday evening summoned the immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
News Point Nigeria reports that Ibas, who left office on September 17, 2025, following the expiration of a six-month emergency rule in Rivers, arrived at Aso Rock at about 6:50 pm, dressed in brown native attire.
He was received under tight protocol and escorted into the President’s wing.
Closely behind him were Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) both signaling the weight and sensitivity of the meeting.
Edun, who had earlier been sighted at the villa, briefly left the premises only to return moments later with a file in hand, further fueling speculation about the gravity of the agenda.
The summons comes just days after the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, announced plans to probe all financial expenditures during the six months of emergency rule in the oil-rich state.
The House, in its resolution, vowed to scrutinize allocations from the consolidated revenue fund, contracts awarded, and other financial dealings under Ibas’ watch.
“We will explore the process of knowing what transpired during the emergency rule with regard to spending from the consolidated revenue fund for the award of contracts and other expenditure,” the Assembly declared in its first plenary after the return of constitutional governance.
Ibas, however, had earlier dismissed the Assembly’s decision to audit his administration, insisting that he acted within the directives of the emergency powers conferred on him by the Presidency.
Yet, pressure is mounting as financial records show that Rivers State received at least N254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between March and August 2025, during Ibas’ tenure.
The presence of both the Finance Minister and EFCC boss at the meeting underscores that the Presidency may be preparing a financial review or even a possible investigation into the Rivers accounts under Ibas.
While details of the closed-door talks remain sketchy, Presidency insiders told News Point Nigeria that Tinubu is determined to send a strong message on accountability, especially as political tension in Rivers remains high following the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state Assembly.
