Probe former Delta Gov. Okowa, now, Delta oil producing communities tell EFCC

Former Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa may be having a sleepless night over agitation by the Oil and gas-producing communities of Delta State (OGPC) to have him probed after his eight years tenure as governor of the oil-producing state.

OGPC has urged the EFCC to commence investigation and prosecution of Okowa on how he managed the 13 percent oil derivation funds for eight years.

They alleged that Okowa has to account for over N1.2 trillion meant for the physical development of the oil-producing communities of Delta State to truncate the arm of justice.

The communities represented by the Association of Oil and Gas Producing Communities of Delta State, at a press conference in Abuja, lamented the footdragging by the EFCC to invite Okowa for questioning despite the presentation of evidence of alleged mismanagement of the funds.

The group, which noted that they acquired and submitted financial records on the derivation account from the ministry of Finance, lamented only a paltry N208 billion was disbursed in the eight year period of the Okowa administration as claimed by the former commissioner of information.

Their leaders at the conference, Ijaw Ethnic Nationality, Chief Mulade B. Sheriff; Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality, Sir Mathew Itsekure; Urhobo Ethnic Nationality, Hon Mark Ikpuri; Isoko Ethnic Nationality, Chief John Etenero.

Others were Ndokwa Ethnic Nationality, Comrade Osita Ijeoma; Vice Chairman, Delta State Elders Forum, Chief Godwin Ogbetuo; Poineer National Secretary TROMPCON, Prince Maikpobi Okareme.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Sheriff said they had to call another press conference after their May 22, 2023 media engagement on the alleged deliberate efforts “by the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa who govern the oil rich state from 2015-2023 and received the 13% oil derivation funds for 8 years amounting to over #1.2 Trillion meant for the physical development of our Oil Producing Communities of Delta state, to truncate the arm of justice.”.