N1.3tn fraud: Okowa’s detention sparks requires probe of ex-governors

The controversy trailing the arrest of former Governor of Delta State Ifeanyi Okowa has been on the entrance burner within the state, sparking calls from the ruling social gathering and others for investigation of former state governors, MATTHEW OCHEI writes

The arrest of Ifeanyi Okowa, the fast previous Governor of Delta State, by officers of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee nonetheless baffles the state’s residents, particularly the political people, who really feel he ought to have been left off the hook by the anti-graft company contemplating his achievements throughout his eight-year reign.

Operatives of the fee penultimate Monday arrested Okowa over an alleged diversion of N1.3tn.

The N1.3tn reportedly represents the 13 per cent derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

Based on sources inside the fee, Okowa was on the EFCC workplace in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the place he was subsequently detained by officers.

One of many sources instructed The PidomNigeria instantly after the ex-governor’s arrest, “Okowa was at our Port Harcourt workplace following an invite from investigators probing the allegations towards him. He was then arrested. The fee is investigating him concerning the N1.3tn 13 per cent derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

“He’s additionally accused of failing to account for the funds, in addition to one other N40bn he allegedly claimed was used to amass shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Pure Fuel. He reportedly purchased shares price N40bn in one of many nation’s main banks, representing an eight per cent fairness stake, to help the offshore LNG undertaking. The funds are alleged to have been misappropriated for different functions.

“Investigators are additionally analyzing the alleged diversion of funds by the previous governor to amass estates in Abuja and Asaba, Delta State.”

As of late, discussions are sometimes centred on the arrest and launch of the politician at locations corresponding to bars, ministries, authorities companies, and different gatherings within the state capital, Asaba.

Following work resumption on Monday, it was the lead subject as employees sought to know the whereabouts of their former governor and what had occurred over the weekend.

The questions begging for solutions had been many: “Is Okowa nonetheless beneath EFCC? Has Okowa out from EFCC custody?”, “Who’re the individuals behind his detention?” amongst others.

When the information of Okowa’s arrest broke, key state authorities officers, particularly those that served beneath him, went into hiding as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori broke the silence.

Oborevwori, who spoke via considered one of his aides, Director Normal, Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Latimore Oghenesivbe, mentioned Okowa was harmless till confirmed responsible.

He mentioned, “On behalf of the federal government, I urge Deltans to hope for Okowa at this making an attempt time. Okowa is harmless till confirmed responsible. The arrest of former governor Okowa by EFCC doesn’t in any approach fracture his enviable status.

“EFCC normally invitations suspects based mostly on legal allegations, which can be true or false, and the regulation recognises the innocence of all accused individuals till confirmed in any other case

“The information of former governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa’s arrest by EFCC is trending based mostly on stories by a bit of the standard media.

“There isn’t a trigger for alarm. It’s a longtime process in legal issues to have a suspect arrested based mostly on allegations in type of a petition to the fee.

“Arrest isn’t a proof of guilt, and never a judgment by a court docket of competent jurisdiction. The allegations shall be examined in court docket or courts as the necessity arises. It’s essential for us to maintain our fingers crossed.”

Our correspondent gathered that Okowa was launched Friday evening after spending 5 days within the custody of EFCC.

Expectedly, the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress lauded the arrest and detention of Okowa, saying “it’s a optimistic step in Nigeria’s ongoing battle towards corruption.”

The social gathering additional said that Okowa’s arrest signified the administration’s dedication to tackling monetary mismanagement and corruption at each state and federal ranges.

The APC state Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, recommended the Federal Authorities for its decisive motion, urging the EFCC to proceed its investigation into the monetary dealings of different former governors and public officers.

The Delta APC emphasised that Okowa’s arrest mirrored a broader agenda “to curb corruption, promote transparency and make sure that public funds profit the residents moderately than serving private pursuits.”

The assertion additional learn, “We within the APC wholeheartedly welcome the arrest of former Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who oversaw one of the vital regarding instances of monetary mismanagement throughout his eight-year tenure.

“His administration allegedly funnelled vital state sources into private ventures, together with establishing a financial institution, financing a failed presidential ambition, and supporting the controversial imposition of a successor.

“The arrest serves as a warning to all public officeholders, the period of impunity is over and that nobody, regardless of place or political affiliation, is above the regulation.”

It added, “The battle towards corruption have to be thorough and unwavering, and we commend the administration’s efforts on this regard.

“The legacy of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration is a excessive debt profile ensuing from a reckless borrowing spree, which earned him the infamous nickname of ‘Borrow Borrow Governor.’

“Throughout his eight years in workplace, Delta State has little to point out for the huge federal allocations acquired. The few substandard roads he constructed, usually hailed because the ‘highway grasp,’ have deteriorated quickly.”

However Chief Press Secretary to Okowa from 2019 to 2023, Olisa Ifeajika, said that the EFCC didn’t set up any case towards Okowa.

Ifeajika, the Government Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Public Enlightenment (Initiatives and Insurance policies), in a press release on Wednesday, mentioned the previous governor was solely invited to reply questions regarding petitions filed towards him.

“The very fact of the matter, the primary level that must be made is that the EFCC has not established any case towards Dr Okowa. As is customary with the anti-graft company, the previous governor was invited to reply questions regarding some petitions that had been filed towards him by some disgruntled components.

“Upon his return from trip, and as a person with a transparent conscience, Dr Okowa proceeded to the EFCC workplace in Port Harcourt as requested. The substance of the petition was that Dr Okowa allegedly corruptly enriched himself and used state sources to amass 80 per cent stake in Premium Trust Bank. He was additionally alleged to have diverted state sources to construct housing estates in Asaba and Abuja and two motels in Asaba for himself.

“Governor Okowa cleared himself of these allegations because the property in Abuja is owned by a public determine. The ex-governor lives in his personal non-public home in an property in Asaba that’s occupied by different residents, who’re owners,” Ifeajika said.

“Equally, the house owners of the motels in Asaba are individuals identified to the general public and the EFCC, whereas Okowa has zero monetary curiosity in Premium Trust Bank. These are details which might be simply verifiable from the Company Affairs Fee and by advantage of the Freedom of Info Act.

“The allegation that the previous governor allegedly diverted N1.3tn oil derivation funds is as ludicrous as it’s outlandish. That is only a rehash of the identical spurious allegations that some malicious, myopic, vindictive, and prejudiced individuals concocted whereas Okowa was nonetheless in workplace.”

However, a rights activist in Delta State, Anthony Asakitikpi, recommended EFCC for its swift arrest of the previous governor.

Asakitikpi, who’s the South South zonal appearing Chairman of Huride, instructed The PidomNigeria that each one looters of Delta State treasury have to be delivered to e book.

“I sincerely respect and commend EFCC for its swift arrest of the previous Governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa. All enemies of Delta individuals have to be delivered to e book. Okowa is one other case research.

“It might additionally curiosity you to know that the mentioned Okowa plunged Delta State into enormous quantity of money owed making an attempt to please Atiku throughout his presidential marketing campaign.

“No tangible proof of all the cash borrowed within the identify of Delta state. Because it stands, Delta state remains to be paying for the sins they didn’t commit.

“A state of affairs the place public funds are being diverted for private curiosity is changing into too alarming. Based mostly on these details, I hereby name on the EFCC to prosecute Okowa to account for all of the borrowed cash within the identify of Delta State, and to refund similar again to Delta State coffers and be made to face the total wrath of the regulation. We are saying no to treasury looters.”

Additionally, one other human rights activist, Jude Ojiugo-Onochie, who described Okowa’s arrest as selective, urged EFCC to increase the investigation to different previous governors.

“I’m not towards the arrest of Okowa, however they need to cease selective arrests.  Info we’re getting is that he was launched on Friday. It’s towards human rights for EFCC to carry him for 5 days.”

As has been the case lately, Delta individuals are watching how Okowa will dance to the anti- corruption music performed by the EFCC.

A political and social analyst, Peter Legacy, mentioned, “That Okowa is passing via the investigation of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, shouldn’t be an emotional state of affairs in Delta state polity

“I consider in establishments and rule of regulation. Misappropriation is the bone of competition. The regulation that established DESOPADEC was particular about financing, remittance and funding.

“By admittance of Dr Okowa’s authorities, there was apparent misappropriation of funds for expedient causes. However that doesn’t make up for the precept of misappropriation. If N1m was imagined to go to DESOPADEC by regulation, the N1m that was imagined to go to DESOPADEC shouldn’t go to Capital Territory Growth Company.

“We’ve got to imbibe the tradition of respect for legal guidelines and establishments. Let the investigation run its course, if the ex-governor is harmless, we’ll discover out finally,” he mentioned.

Additionally, two human rights organisations, Anti-Corruption and Integrity Discussion board and Worldwide Human Rights Fee, faulted the detention of Okowa by the EFCC, describing him as a sufferer of politics.

The chairman of Anti-corruption and Integrity Discussion board and Board member of IHRC, Prince Kpokpogri, at a press convention in Abuja, queried the mode of operation of the EFCC.

Based on him, Okowa must be recommended for exhibiting maturity not like a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who has defied the EFCC and resisted each try to be arrested and arraigned.

He mentioned, “On Monday, October 4, 2024 the information house went agog over the alleged arrest and detention of former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, EFCC, for allegedly embezzling a whopping N1.3tn of Delta state’s funds.

“Because the information went viral, I’ve waited patiently for an official assertion from the EFCC on the detention of the previous governor. It’s a provided that the anti-graft company normally makes public such high-profile arrest and detention to point out that no one is above the regulation.

“Nonetheless, it’s stunning that the EFCC has resorted to utilizing “sources” over such a delicate matter. As an anti-corruption crusader, I discover it a bit troubling that the company is shying away from making its place identified when former Governor Okowa honourably offered himself to the Workplace of the anti-graft company in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“Dr. Okowa must be recommended for being not like a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who has defied the EFCC, resisted each try to be arrested and arraigned. This trial by the media utilizing proxies is untenable, vexatious and unlucky.”