Ex-Delta Governor Okowa Faces Extended EFCC Detention Amid N1.3tn Fraud Probe

Ex-Delta Governor Okowa Faces Extended EFCC Detention Amid N1.3tn Fraud Probe

The former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, continues to be held at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, marking his second consecutive night in detention.

The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its support for the detention, calling it a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against corruption…….CONTINUE READING 

Okowa, who served as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, was summoned by the EFCC on Monday regarding the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion. He was subsequently arrested.

Sources revealed that Okowa is also under investigation for the alleged mismanagement of an additional N40 billion, which he claimed was used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas. The former governor is accused of using the funds for unauthorized purposes, including purchasing shares in a major Nigerian bank and acquiring estates in Abuja and Asaba.

According to an EFCC source, Okowa has yet to be released due to the scale of the allegations against him. “We are continuing our investigation as we confront him with these charges,” the source stated.

The APC’s Delta State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, welcomed the arrest, criticizing Okowa’s tenure for alleged financial mismanagement. He added that the former governor’s record includes significant borrowing, which earned him the nickname “Borrow Borrow Governor,” and said his administration left the state with little to show for the resources allocated to it.