Fact-Check: Rivers State Sole Administrator Denies Summoning Suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and His Deputy as Widely Claimed 

BY: Oluwaseye Ogunsanya & Mustapha Lawal

Claim:
Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, summoned suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy to the Government House over past appointments.

Verdict:
False! The Rivers State Government has officially debunked the claim, stating that no such summons was issued by the Sole Administrator or the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. The statement in circulation is fake and did not originate from official government sources.

Full Text

On April 15, 2025, several social media users, online platforms and blogs, including Rufai Oseni (Arise TV Broadcaster), Daily Post, published reports claiming that Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the recently appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, had summoned the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Dr Ngozi Ordu, to appear before him at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.

Screenshots of the claim posted by various users, online platforms and blogs

Screenshots of the claim posted by various users, online platforms and blogs

The report alleged that the summons was for an official inquiry into political appointments made during the Fubara administration over the last two years. A statement purportedly signed by Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), was cited as the source of the announcement, listing a meeting date, time,and venue. The supposed special announcement quickly went viral, generating heated debates and concerns about the evolving political crisis in Rivers State. 

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, commenting on the alleged summons in a post on his X handle, described it as a situation where an unconstitutional impostor is summoning a governor who is shielded by constitutional immunity. He said, “If Fubara dignifies this silly and ridiculous summons, it means he is not a serious person. An unconstitutional impostor is summoning a governor who is protected by constitutional immunity? This madness can only happen in Tinubu’s Nigeria. Such insolence!”

JJ Omojuwa, a public figure, described the purported announcement as an anomaly. “This is an anomaly. What part of the Constitution does such a power derive? A state of emergency doesn’t expire a governor’s mandate… I hope it isn’t true. Has no legal or constitutional reason to be true”, he posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle. 

Context

Ibas was appointed in March by President Tinubu as the sole administrator of Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil rich state to address the protracted political logjam between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly members, even after the Supreme Court’s pronouncement.

In proclaiming the six-month State of Emergency, President Tinubu said the state’s security situation and political tension necessitated his intervention to forestall a total breakdown of law and order. The National Assembly subsequently approved the state of emergency through separate controversial voice votes.

Since taking charge of the affairs of the state, the former navy chief has however taken several significant decisions which some have viewed as overreaching. These decisions include the sack of all political appointees, the suspension of the heads of all MDAs in the state, the approval of the reconstitution of boards for various agencies, commissions, and parastatals, the approval of the appointment of a new chairman (Michael Odey) and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission as well as the appointment of administrators for the 23 LGAs of the state. 

In order to ascertain the true state of affairs in the state and ensure that the green chamber remains properly guided in the discharge of its oversight responsibilities in the public interest, the 19-member House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight chaired by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere and inaugurated by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas on Tuesday has invited the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), to appear before it today, Thursday, April 17, 2025. 

A statement issued by the House Spokesman, Akin Rotimi on Wednesday said, “Pursuant to its constitutional mandate to exercise full legislative oversight in accordance with Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Committee resolved, among other matters, to invite Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, to appear before it for a comprehensive interactive session.

“The Sole Administrator is expected to appear before the Committee on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 4:00 PM, in Room 414, House of Representatives New Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

“A formal letter of invitation has been sent and acknowledged accordingly. This public announcement serves to reinforce transparency in the Committee’s proceedings.

“The Committee reiterates its commitment to fulfilling its duties with diligence, transparency, and strict adherence to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Given the public interest and tension surrounding the state’s governance issues, FactCheckAfrica verified the authenticity of the claim.

Verification

Following the viral reports, the Rivers State Government issued an official rebuttal on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, denying the authenticity of the announcement.

A statement signed by Dede Sampson Friday, Permanent Secretary, Special Services Bureau, Office of the SSG, described the viral message as a fabrication designed to mislead the public and incite unrest.

“No such announcement originated from the Office of the SSG or the Sole Administrator,” the statement clarified. All official government communications are disseminated only through verified platforms, including the state government website, official press releases, and authorised media outlets.”

The Rivers State Government cautioned the public against spreading unverified information and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and peace amid the state’s political situation.

Furthermore, a review of the official social media handles and website of the Rivers State Government revealed no record of the alleged summons. There was also no press release or confirmation from the Office of the Sole Administrator regarding such a directive.

Conclusion

The claim that Rivers State Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas summoned suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy over past appointments is false. The Rivers State Government has officially debunked the circulating statement as fake, clarifying that it did not originate from the Office of the SSG or any legitimate state authority. As always, the public is advised to rely solely on verified government sources and platforms for official updates to avoid being misled by coordinated disinformation campaigns.