Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibas Soaks in multi-million naira corruption scandal, accused of diverting monthly LGA Allocations

Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibas Soaks in multi-million naira corruption scandal, accused of diverting monthly LGA Allocations

 

A major corruption scandal has erupted in Rivers State as Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Sole Administrator of the state, faces accusations of diverting ₦200 million from the monthly allocations intended for Ahoada East Local Government Area (LGA).

 

 

 

According to Guardian Newspaper, the claim was made by Mr. Goodluck Iheanacho, the embattled Sole Administrator of Ahoada East, who also accused state officials of political persecution and violent intimidation tied to his allegiance with the political faction loyal to suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

 

Tensions spiked over the weekend after a disturbing video surfaced online showing Iheanacho being physically assaulted by armed youths inside his office. In the footage, the administrator is seen seated on the floor while being forced to sign a resignation letter — a move allegedly orchestrated to remove him from office under duress.

 

 

Sources within the council claim the incident was politically motivated. A voice note, attributed to the council’s Chief Security Officer, Hector Ekeakita, alleged that Iheanacho was targeted because of his association with the ‘Simplified Family,’ a group backing Governor Fubara in his ongoing feud with former Governor and current Minister, Nyesom Wike.

 

Ekeakita, who has been questioned by police in connection with the incident, publicly distanced himself from the mob action. He claimed that the attackers were disgruntled locals angry over alleged financial misconduct and lack of transparency in the council’s operations.

 

“Goodluck Iheanacho was tortured and forced to sign a prepared resignation letter,” Ekeakita alleged. “In April, the council received ₦800 million but declared ₦700 million. In May, ₦600 million came in, plus over ₦100 million in excess crude revenue, yet only ₦500 million was reported. Where is the missing money? Vice Admiral Ibas must answer.”

 

He further claimed that just ₦41 million was left for council activities over the two-month period, accusing Ibas of large-scale fiscal mismanagement. Despite admitting that Iheanacho had failed to deliver on core responsibilities such as sanitation and security, Ekeakita condemned the violent actions against him.

 

“This doesn’t justify the mob action,” he said. “But the people reacted because he abandoned the basics of leadership.”

 

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed both the assault and the coerced resignation, stating that a full investigation is underway. No arrests have yet been made, but officials have pledged to ensure accountability.

 

This latest controversy deepens the political crisis gripping Rivers State, where a bitter rivalry between supporters of Wike and Fubara has paralyzed governance and fractured local institutions.

 

With new allegations of corruption now adding fuel to the fire, political observers warn that the situation in Rivers could spiral further if urgent steps are not taken to restore order and transparency.

 

As of press time, neither Vice Admiral Ibas nor any official representative from the Rivers State government had publicly responded to the allegations.