Breaking: EFCC Chairman Storms Aso Rock as Tinubu Summons Ex-Rivers’ Administrator
- EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede was spotted at the Presidential Villa in Abuja as President Tinubu met with former Rivers Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd)
- Ibas, appointed during a state of emergency in Rivers amid political turmoil, handed over last week
- Rivers state received at least N254.37 billion from the Federation Account during Ibas’ tenure
Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was seen at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, September 24.
The anti-graft chief arrived around the same time President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd), the immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
Source: Twitter
Tinubu meets former Rivers administrator
Ibas, who was appointed by President Tinubu during the height of the political crisis in Rivers, oversaw the oil-rich state for a brief period.
The appointment followed nearly two years of political turmoil between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.
State of emergency declared in Rivers
After attempts to resolve the political impasse failed, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on 18 March 2025, appointing Ibas as sole administrator.
Two days later, both chambers of the National Assembly endorsed the declaration, effectively suspending Fubara, his deputy, and the members of the Rivers state House of Assembly.
Calls for probe into Ibas’ tenure
Ibas handed over last week, and Fubara resumed control of the state.
Following his departure, some stakeholders called for an investigation into Ibas’ administration, accusing him of failing to improve infrastructure during his short tenure, Daily Trust reported.
Rivers state House of Assembly sets probe in motion
Source: Twitter
The Rivers State House of Assembly, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, announced during its first plenary after the emergency rule ended that it would investigate state expenditures during the six-month period.
A resolution stated the need “to 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.”
Massive revenue during emergency rule
Between March and August 2025, Rivers State received at least N254.37 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee while under Ibas’ administration, Vanguard reported.
Also sighted at the Presidential Villa was Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
It remains unclear whether Olukoyede and Edun were at the Villa specifically regarding the Rivers state issue.
Rivers: Ibas rejects being probed
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the Rivers state House of Assembly has resolved to probe the state’s finances during the six-month emergency rule overseen by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the former sole administrator of the state.
At its first sitting after the emergency period ended, the Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, said it would scrutinise spending from the consolidated revenue fund.
Reacting, Ibas dismissed the Assembly’s move, stressing that the lawmakers lacked the authority to investigate his tenure since they did not appoint him. Ibas argued that since he was appointed by President Bola Tinubu and supervised by the National Assembly, any probe into his tenure would effectively be a probe of both institutions, Punch reported.
Source: Legit.ng
