The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa into custody on Monday.
Okowa, who served as vice-presidential candidate alongside former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, was detained at the anti-graft agency’s Port Harcourt office.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewole confirmed the development in a phone conversation with The Gazette.
According to officials, Okowa allegedly leveraged his gubernatorial position to embezzle public funds and amass assets worth an estimated N1.3 trillion., largely through for alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.
Among these assets are substantial shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Company, along with other significant investments across the oil sector, sources revealed.
Okowa was arrested on Monday, November 4, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when he reported at the Port Harcourt Directorate of the EFCC on the invitation of investigators handling his matter.
The former governor was alleged to have failed to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.
Further details on the charges and evidence against Okowa were not immediately available. It remains uncertain whether the former governor has engaged legal representation.
Additionally, efforts to reach Okowa’s spokesperson for comments on the arrest were unsuccessful as of press time.
