By: Joy Musa
Serious allegations of large-scale corruption have surfaced against the Sole Administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, Mr. Ndu Walter, following the leak of documents purportedly exposing a ₦300 million financial misconduct scheme.
According to credible insider sources, Mr. Walter is accused of orchestrating a well-coordinated looting operation involving the misappropriation of council funds. At the center of the scheme is an alleged laundering network operated through his brother-in-law, Mr. Christopher Obi, who is said to serve as a proxy for the illicit transactions.
The leaked documents, which include bank instructions, internal memos, and transaction records, reportedly show that Mr. Walter issued a series of questionable directives to financial institutions managing the council’s accounts. These instructions allegedly facilitated multiple unauthorized withdrawals and transfers totaling hundreds of millions of naira.
The scandal traces back to Mr. Walter’s appointment by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas (rtd), an action that had already drawn criticism from some quarters for its lack of transparency. Critics argue that the appointment of sole administrators in place of democratically elected local government officials has created fertile ground for unchecked abuse of office.
A coalition of stakeholders and civil society organizations in Obio/Akpor has since condemned the alleged looting. In a statement released over the weekend, the group vowed to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), demanding a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“This is not merely a breach of administrative ethics — it is a direct and deliberate diversion of funds meant for grassroots development,” said a member of the coalition who requested anonymity. “We are determined to pursue justice and ensure that public trust is not betrayed with impunity.”
Further investigations by the stakeholders reportedly revealed that a First Bank account belonging to Mr. Christopher Obi (Account Number: 2011345135) was used recurrently for suspicious fund transfers, raising serious red flags among financial observers and anti-corruption advocates.
Despite multiple efforts, both Mr. Walter and Mr. Obi could not be reached for comments as of press time. Calls and messages to their known phone numbers went unanswered.
The unfolding scandal has reignited public calls for institutional reform and a return to democratic processes in local government administration across Rivers State. Critics say the concentration of power in the hands of unelected sole administrators has only served to weaken accountability and encourage corruption.
As pressure mounts, the ball is now firmly in the court of Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies. Observers are keenly watching to see whether the EFCC, ICPC, and relevant institutions will rise to the occasion and bring those implicated to book.
