Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN, has challenged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to release a detailed account of Rivers State spending under the stewardship of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) during the six-month period of emergency rule. Rivers State spending, Adegboruwa insists, must be made fully transparent so citizens can assess how public resources were used while constitutional processes were paused.
Adegboruwa’s call comes amid a fraught political transition: Governor Siminalayi Fubara is returning to govern after the emergency rule. During those months, Ibok-Ete Ibas acted as sole administrator of the state. The lawyer insists that Rivers State spending under Ibas must be subjected to public scrutiny—not merely for political optics, but as a matter of democratic accountability.
In a statement, Adegboruwa pressed for answers. “What is his report? What did he do with the resources? What is the state of the handover?” he asked. Such questions, he said, are not rhetorical. They are essential because Rivers State, known for its oil wealth, strategic port, and economic significance, has citizens who deserve clarity on how their taxes and state resources were managed during an extraordinary period of governance.
The emergency rule was invoked under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution—a legal framework that grants the President sweeping powers during states of emergency. Rivers State spending during this period, however, was carried out under a cloud of ambiguity. Adegboruwa described Section 305 as “controversial,” pointing out that while the constitution gives the President authority, it does not clearly define the limits of that authority when a sole administrator is in place. That, he warns, is an opening for overreach.
“When there is a need to declare a state of emergency, the consequential powers to be exercised by the President must be stated definitely,” Adegboruwa declared. Without explicit limits, he argued, the transparency and accountability of Rivers State spending is compromised. He urged the National Assembly to ensure that constitutional safeguards are reinforced, to prevent abuse during any future emergency rule.
Siminalayi Fubara returns to office at a moment when governance is under intense public scrutiny. Rivers State spending under Ibas will be one of the first test cases for Fubara’s administration. The challenges are numerous: restoring public trust, clarifying the financial status of the state after months of emergency rule, and addressing infrastructural decay or public service lapses that may have accumulated during that period.
Adegboruwa cautioned that the return to civilian rule should not be marked by celebrations alone. The political climate, he said, remains tense and uncertain. Local government elections, for example, were held even as the emergency rule continued—a situation which he believes may have blurred the lines between constitutional order and interim governance. He urged politicians and officials to reflect deeply on democratic norms, particularly respecting citizens’ mandates.
The legacy of former Governor Nyesom Wike remains a powerful undercurrent in the political life of Rivers State. Factions associated with Wike, loyalties and rivalries, continue to influence decisions and expectations. In this complex environment, how Rivers State spending under Ibas is managed, accounted for, and finally handed over will signal much about the future trajectory of governance in the region.
Adegboruwa also called for a judicial interpretation of presidential powers under Section 305. Such legal clarity, he argues, is essential to ensure that emergency measures do not become a pretext for circumventing democratic oversight. For Rivers State (or any state in Nigeria), the risk when spending is opaque is that citizens lose trust, governance weakens, and public resources are misused.
The activist’s demand is for published, verifiable reports: how much was spent, on what, by whom, and to what effect. He insists that those questions should be answered before hands are shaken and power is fully restored to Governor Fubara. The handover process, he said, must include detailed financial statements; anything less would be a betrayal of the social contract between government and the people.
For Governor Fubara, the return to power is an opportunity. An opportunity to reestablish trust, to show that Rivers State spending can be transparent, accountable, and used for the benefit of citizens. The opportunity to strengthen institutions, clarify legal powers, and avoid the kind of fuzzy margins that allow rumours and suspicions to grow.
In summary, the key demands now are: a comprehensive accounting of all Rivers State spending during the emergency period; a transparent handover process; public disclosures of contracts, budgets, and expenditures; and judicial clarity on constitutional powers during emergencies. How these demands are met will test not only Governor Fubara but President Tinubu and the National Assembly.
As Rivers State moves forward, citizens will be watching closely. The question now is whether their leadership will respond with openness, or whether Rivers State spending will remain shrouded in uncertainty. For a state rich in resources, the expectations are high; for its people, they are non-negotiable.
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