1.3trn Probe: Okowa spotted at EFCC office, seeks release of passport
By Ndukaku Ihe
Former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Monday visited the Lagos Directorate 1 office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ikoyi amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion 13 per cent derivation funds.
Sources within the anti-graft agency who spoke in confidence disclosed that the former governor’s visit was linked to his request for the release of his international passport to enable him travel abroad for what he reportedly described as urgent medical treatment.
The sources, however, could not confirm whether the commission approved his request or returned the travel document.
Okowa was first arrested by the EFCC on November 4, 2024 and questioned at the commission’s Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate over allegations surrounding the management of Delta State’s 13 per cent derivation funds between 2015 and 2023.
The investigation centres on allegations that about N1.3 trillion received by the state from the Federation Account during his tenure was diverted.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful as calls made to his telephone line were not answered.
The case remains one of the commission’s high-profile investigations involving alleged mismanagement of oil revenue allocations by former public officials.
