The House of Representatives ad hoc committee overseeing the emergency rule in Rivers State has accepted an apology from the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), after he failed to honour previous invitations to appear before the lawmakers.
The 21-member committee, inaugurated by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas on April 15, was tasked with monitoring governance and upholding the rule of law in the state during the emergency period. Ibas was initially expected to brief the lawmakers on April 17, just a day after the committee was set up, but he requested a postponement, and the meeting was rescheduled for April 24.
Despite the rescheduling, Ibas did not appear before the committee on the new date. However, on Friday, he addressed the lawmakers in person, offering a formal apology for his absence and requesting more time to prepare a thorough briefing.
He explained that the delay was not intentional but a result of the urgent demands of stabilising governance in a state undergoing a delicate transition under emergency rule. “It’s been exactly 10 days since the first invitation, and during that time we had public holidays and weekends,” Ibas said. “The situation in Rivers is relatively calm, but still fragile, and any engagement with this committee requires depth and clarity.”
He assured the committee of his full cooperation and commitment to providing all necessary information in due time.
In response, Committee Chairman and House Leader Julius Ihonvbere confirmed that the committee had accepted Ibas’ apology. He noted that Ibas showed respect by appearing personally and requesting more time to deliver a detailed and meaningful report.
“In the spirit of fairness and accountability, the committee has resolved to accept his apology and will announce a new date for the engagement soon,” Ihonvbere said.
He added that the committee remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure transparency and the rule of law during the ongoing emergency administration in Rivers State.
