A major scandal is quietly rocking Rivers State as explosive allegations surface about a covert looting operation allegedly masterminded by top government appointees. At the center of the controversy are Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas Ekwe (Rtd), Sole Administrator of Rivers State, and Mr. Ndu Walter, Sole Administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area—who also happens to be a senior cousin to the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
It began with a directive from Vice Admiral Ekwe demanding each LGA sole administrator remit a staggering ₦150 million to the state. The demand sparked outrage, with many LGA heads warning it would cripple local governance, leaving only enough funds to pay salaries—if that.
Amid the unrest, Mr. Ndu Walter—seen as a conduit for higher interests—held a closed-door meeting with Ekwe. Following their meeting, the remittance target was quietly reduced to ₦100 million. Walter then convened a private meeting with other sole administrators to deliver the “discounted” demand, but instead of pacifying the group, it triggered a wave of open rebellion across LGAs including Obio/Akpor, Eleme, Ogu/Bolo, Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Etche, and Ahoada-East.
Tensions boiled over when Mr. Ike A. Amadi, Walter’s personal assistant, summoned principal officers of the Obio/Akpor council to a secret meeting aimed at coercing them into compliance. Sources say the meeting quickly descended into chaos, with attendees fiercely opposing the plan and questioning where the money would truly go.
Across multiple LGAs, resistance is mounting. In Andoni, a council staff meeting ended in disgrace after a representative linked to former Attorney General Prof. Rufus Adangor sent his chauffeur instead of attending in person, igniting outrage and confusion.
Principal officers are now vowing to expose what they describe as a grand scheme to siphon state funds under the pretense of remittances. “This isn’t governance—it’s organized theft,” one insider declared.
As the plot continues to unravel, Rivers citizens are rallying behind the whistleblowers. What was once a hush-hush operation is quickly becoming a symbol of a larger war: a clash between integrity and impunity.
The pressure is mounting. If LGA officers make good on their promise to “let the cat out of the bag,” this scandal could explode into one of the biggest political reckonings in recent Rivers State history.
