The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday detained former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa, following allegations of financial mismanagement related to a significant sum of money. Okowa, who served as Delta governor from 2015 to 2023 and was the vice-presidential candidate in the last general election, faces accusations of diverting approximately N1.3 trillion.
The alleged misappropriated funds reportedly originate from the 13% derivation allocation, a federal revenue meant for oil-producing states. EFCC sources disclosed that Okowa was detained at the agency’s Port Harcourt Directorate after failing to satisfy investigators with his responses concerning how these funds were managed during his tenure.
A reliable source from the EFCC, who spoke under anonymity due to lack of authorization, revealed that Okowa had been previously summoned by a specialized investigative team. The source indicated that, following his inability to provide adequate explanations to the commission’s inquiries, he may be held in custody for further questioning.
This development marks a high-profile step in the EFCC’s continued scrutiny of alleged financial misconduct among former state officials in Nigeria’s oil-rich regions.
