The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confiscated the international passport of the former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, as part of its ongoing investigation into allegations of financial misconduct.
Okowa, who was detained by the EFCC on November 4, 2024, is being questioned over the alleged diversion of a staggering N1.3 trillion from the derivation fund between 2015 and 2023.
The N1.3 trillion, representing a 13 percent share of the derivation fund from the federation account, is at the center of the probe.
Additionally, Okowa is accused of failing to account for the funds and allegedly using N40 billion to purchase shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas, along with further investments in a major bank, which represented 8 percent equity in a venture to establish an offshore LNG facility.
According to sources within the EFCC, Okowa was initially taken into custody at the agency’s Port Harcourt office in Rivers State, but he was released after fulfilling the bail conditions, including surrendering his travel documents.
The source emphasized that the decision was made to prevent Okowa from fleeing the country before the investigation could conclude.
“Okowa is no longer in our custody. He was released last Wednesday after meeting his bail conditions, which include depositing his travel documents with the commission, pending the conclusion of our investigations of the allegations against him. The sum allegedly is too huge to take risks. And what we have done is not out of place. This is to prevent anyone under investigation from jumping the bail he/she had been granted,” the source revealed.
Efforts to reach EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale for comment were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered and messages remained unreturned.
In response to the allegations, Okowa publicly addressed the matter for the first time since his release.
During a solidarity visit from the national leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union on Tuesday, Okowa dismissed the claim that he misappropriated N1.3 trillion as “laughable” and “totally false.”
“It was a petition written several months ago, but unfortunately, with the politics of our time, some people decided to ensure that Okowa must be invited by the EFCC,” Okowa said. He further explained that the allegation suggested an impossible amount of money. “To successfully take N1.3tn, it means you have to be taking between N16bn and N20bn every month into your pocket. I don’t even know if the President of this country will be able to do that, not to talk of the governor of Delta State.”
Okowa went on to reflect on his administration, pointing out that in the early years of his tenure, the state was financially constrained. “Some local governments like Ethiope East were owing as much as 15 months salaries and even in the state here, some people were getting half salaries.”
He defended his record on salaries and workers’ welfare, stating, “Delta State is the highest salary-paying state in this nation; our salaries grew to the level that salaries and pensions went up to over N11bn in a month.” Okowa also took pride in his administration’s infrastructure projects, especially in the riverine areas, which he felt had been overlooked by his critics.
Addressing the petitioners, he said, “Workers always received their salaries promptly while we also embarked on all the projects that were done, and nobody thinks about it, especially the projects we did in the riverine areas. But, I know that the people are not happy with those who wrote the petition.”
Okowa expressed confidence in the investigation, stating that while he had no issue with being investigated, the allegations were politically motivated. “Personally, I am not against investigation because the EFCC has to do its job, and I know that I have done everything how it ought to be done.”
He continued, “For every allegation, they will investigate, and when they have found the truth, they will stop, but for those who sent a wrong communication, it is rather unfortunate. I just pray for them because when you allow yourself to be used as a tool when evil starts to come, the impact will be so much, but I pray that God will forgive them.”
Reaffirming his support for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who succeeded him, Okowa added, “I know that by the special grace of God, we have done the things we ought to do to the best of our ability and by the special grace of God, Governor Oborevwori is beginning to do a lot.”
Earlier in the visit, UPU President-General Chief Ese Owe expressed gratitude to Okowa for his support in ensuring that their son, Oborevwori, emerged as governor of Delta State.
Okowa, in turn, thanked the UPU for their unwavering backing throughout his tenure, saying, “I thank the UPU and the Urhobos because they supported me a lot and they also believe in equity because I always got more votes from them than their sons who contested against me.”
