Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested Ifeanyi Okowa, the former governor of Delta state over the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion. The alleged sum is part of the 13 percent derivation fund earmarked for oil-producing states between 2015 and 2023. Okowa is the vice presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the last general election, 2023, alongside Atiku Abubakar, as the presidential candidate. Okowa was arrested on Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, when he reported to the EFCC office following an invitation.
The former governor is also being probed over an extra N40 billion allegedly used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas, a facility being developed by UTM Offshore Limited in Akwa Ibom state.
The former governor was said to have failed to account for the utilization of the funds and suspected diversion of funds to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba.
