Alleged ₦1.3 Trillion Fraud: I No Dey Fear EFCC Investigation – Okowa 

Di former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, don talk say him no dey fear any investigation and him no go stop di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from probing am.

Naija News report say di EFCC dey probe Okowa, wey be two-term governor, over di alleged diversion of di sum of N1.3 trillion.

Speaking during solidarity visit wey Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, led by Maj.-Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (retd.), di Orodje of Okpe, come im house for Asaba on Thursday.

Okowa talk say di allegations wey dem make against am na “malicious and politically-motivated,” e note say some pipo dey try to twist di facts to fit diir own interest.

E also dismiss di accusations of misappropriating di money as foolish lies, e stress say e go hard to take dat kind money from di state fund.

E talk say, “For politics, plenty things dey wey pesin go face, but e dey unfortunate when dem bring baseless accusation come media.

“To talk say pesin fit misappropriate such amount mean say dem go need to take N16 to N20 billion every month for 96 months.”

“Dis no be just unreasonable; e be deliberate attempt to mislead.”

About im recent EFCC inquiry, Okowa, wey be Pipos Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate for 2023 general elections, talk say no need to stop di anti-graft agency from doing im investigation.

He add say, “I no dey fear any investigation and I no go stop EFCC from do dem work. Unlike odirs wey dey find court order to block investigation, I believe say make everything clear.”

“But, di public deserve correct information, no be lie wey some pipo dey talk.”

“Di information wey dem bring for di petition no match di facts at all, and I sure say di investigators don see through di lies.”

“I sabi where this attack dey come from, but e no go fit stop me.”

“I serve Delta State with di support of our pipo and leaders like you, and we don achieve plenty progress,” e tell di traditional rulers wey come visit.

 Okowa Political Career

Okowa don be Secretary for Ika Local Government, din he come be Chairman for Ika North-East Local Government Council (1991–1993).

He be Delta North Coordinator for Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM).

He join PDP for 1998, and he help Governor James Ibori campaign for 1998/1999.

He serve as Commissioner for Delta State government for Agriculture and Natural Resources (July 1999 April 2001), Water Resources Development (April 2001 May 2003) and Health (September 2003 October 2006).

Okowa resign to contest for 2007 Delta State PDP governorship primaries, but e no win di governorship primaries.

For June 2007, Ifeanyi be appointed Secretary to di Delta State Government.

Ifeanyi be elected Delta North Senatorial candidate for di January 2011 PDP primaries with 942 votes, but di result na challenge by party leaders wey prefer Marian Amaka Alli as candidate.

E be re-elected for rerun wey e score 1,446 votes, against 108 votes for Marian Alli.

For di April 2011 election for di Delta North Senatorial seat, Ifeanyi win 98,140 votes, ahead of runner up Prince Ned Munir Nwoko of di Democratic People’s Party, wey win 67,985 votes.

Dem report say tension still dey about di election wey happen for January 2013.

Ifeanyi finally grab di ticket for di gubernatorial election for 2015 under di PDP with 406 votes on 8 December 2014.

E win di Delta State Gubernatorial elections for April 2015 with 724,680 votes and dem swear him in as Governor on 29 May 2015.

For di 9 March 2019 Governorship election, Okowa, wey be member of di People’s Democratic Party, get 925,274 votes to beat him opponent, di All Progressives Congress candidate, Great Ogboru, wey get 215,938 votes.

As governor wey dey for Delta State for 2020, e establish University of Delta for him hometown Agbor.

E still set up University of Science and Technology for Ozoro and Dennis Osadebe University for Anwai, all for Delta State.

Corruption allegations  (Delta Line privatization)

For Okowa first term, him administration announce say dem go partially privatize Delta Line bus company wey be state-owned.

At di end of di privatization process, God is Good Transport Development Company (GTDC) buy 60% of Delta Line for ₦160 million while 40% still dey under Delta State government ownership.

Immediately, pipo don raise alarm say na fraud as di owner of GTDC, Chidi Ajaere, don support Okowas 2015 campaign and di odir bidder, di Delta State Council of di Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, talk say dem don offer ₦2 billion for di same stake.

Di AUPCTRE and diir organization, di Nigeria Labour Congress, talk say GTDC first offer di concession committee only ₦80 million compared to diir ₦2 billion,

But GTDC still win when dem double di offer to ₦160 million wey dem pay in two parts while AUPCTRE no fit hear from dem again.

ommittee; AUPCTRE still talk say GTDC no complete dem second payment of ₦80 million.

Okowa commissioners try defend di sale by talk say Delta Line dey owe money.

But former Delta Line Accountant-General David Akpemegin talk say di company don almost finish im debt payment when dem sell am and financial records show say di Line dey make profit according to AUPCTRE, wey no gree for di privatization.

Reports still talk say Okowa pipo like Commissioner of Finance and Chair of di Concession Committee David Edevbie dey support GTDC well well throughout di process even though dem bid low.

Further, experts talk say GTDC buy am to fit remove competitor and report show say Delta Line service quality drop after di sale.

Okowas Chief Press Secretary Olisa Ifeajika defend di sale say na merit-based and e mention GTDC get plenty experience for transportation sector.

GTDC self defend say Ajaere no get special relationship with Okowa and say dem be di most qualified bidder.

2019 Auditor-General report 

For December 2021, two part investigation by di International Centre for Investigative Reporting find irregular spending.

No regard for financial regulations, and evidence of financial misappropriation for Delta State Auditor-General annual report wey come out for 2019.

Plenty ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) plus State House of Assembly dey involve for irregularities wey dem find for di report investigation.

Some notable findings be: Office of di Secretary to State Government no fit account for ₦278.5 million wey belong to public funds, members of Okowa administration dey illegally ignore.

Freedom of Information request, State Board of Internal Revenue dey use ₦107.74 million wey no clear and di extra-budgetary spending of di ministries of Health and Agriculture plus di high cost for House of Assembly members vehicles.

Dem officials no really respond to di request for comment or dem refer di matter go Auditor-General Paul Aghanenu, wey stand by di report but talk say e no fit answer more questions without di approval.

Secretary to State Government

Dem talk say dem divert derivation fund.

For November 2024, dem invite Okowa come Port Harcourt office of di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) make e answer question about wetin dem dey accuse am of, say e mismanage and divert 13% derivation wey suppose go Delta State between 2015 – 2023, wey be N1.3trillion.

Dem hold am for detention by di anti-graft agency.

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