Former Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged his critics and the sponsors of petitions against him before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to counter his responses if they have any substantial evidence.

Okowa stated this during a solidarity visit from the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, led by its Chairman, Maj.-Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (retd), Orodje of Okpe, Orhue I, at his residence in Asaba on Thursday.

Okowa expressed that the allegations presented in the petitions and circulated in the media were unfounded and politically driven. He described them as “malicious and mischievous,” emphasizing that his actions throughout his tenure were in the best interests of Delta State.

“The accusations put forth are politically motivated, intended to tarnish my image. In politics, such challenges come with the territory, but it’s disappointing that the narratives spread in the media lack substance,” he stated.

The visit from Delta’s traditional leaders underscored their unified stance, emphasizing respect for Okowa’s contributions to the state and his commitment to integrity in office.

According to him, in politics, there are all kinds of things that you go through, but it’s just unfortunate that the news that was communicated to the media was not reasonable enough.

“There are certain things that you see that are probably imaginable, but there are things you see, and they are unintelligent lies because alleging that somebody misappropriated N1.3 trillion is ridiculous.

“The implication of that is that the person will have to take a minimum of N16 to N20 billion every month for 96 months.

“So it’s not just unreasonable but unfortunate because this kind of thing has been prepared. I was outside the country for 30 days and I saw when someone wrote that I was detained for three days and I had not even been invited then; so, you can see that grounds were prepared for the propaganda they released.

“As for the EFCC investigation, I am not afraid of any investigation, neither will I stop the EFCC from carrying out their investigations because they must do their work.

“Some governors will go to court to stop them, but I will not stop them because they are doing their normal duties. But, the important thing is that the right communication must be put to the public.

“Unfortunately, some individuals were able to sway a section of the media to send the wrong communication out there,” the former governor said.

He disclosed that he answered the questions EFCC officials asked him, saying “and, I believe that they themselves will know that those things were obvious lies because the information that was put there is not the same with the petition before the EFCC. So, it’s just politics.

“I know it’s just politics because I know all the angles that it came from. But, this will not deter me from doing what I can do, and I thank God for Delta State. With the collective support of everybody, we were able to do the best that we could for the state.

“It is for us to continue to stay focused as a state. It is not possible for everybody in the state to think in the same manners, but it is up to them to communicate the right thing out there rather than lying to the public.”

Okowa said that his administration in the state performed what had been acknowledged as great in and outside the state.

According to him, we may not have made a lot of noise, but we can beat our chest with the advice of our fathers, like you, and with the collective support of the people of Delta State, a lot was done, and I thank God.

“Some people may have grudges, but it is up to them to communicate in the right manners rather than lying to the public because there is nothing hidden.

“The audited accounts of the State is a process that goes through the House of Assembly, and the figures are out there for every year.

“They have done lots of investigations on what we have done in the state and I am sure they are impressed with what they have seen.

“All the projects that we did are all there. They have come to check all the projects, and just two days ago, the Commissioner for Higher Education was here, and he was telling me about the progress made so far in the three new universities.

“They are entering their final year now, and they will be graduating their first set next year. I am told that this year alone, the University of Delta, Agbor admitted 4,500 students while Ozoro took 4,000 students and Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, admitted 3,000.

“So just imagine that over 30,000 students are currently admitted in these three universities already, and they are all running simultaneously.

“We are the only state with four state universities running, and we are not owing salaries while infrastructure is being developed simultaneously in all the universities,” Okowa stated.

He added that his administration did a lot to combat flooding in Asaba and Warri and commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for continuing with the Warri Storm Water Drainage project, which was 80 per cent completed at the moment.

“We took our development up to the riverine areas, and they know the level we went in paving and providing concrete roads for them, and we thank God for all these.

“I thank God for fathers like you who were always around, and if we did not do well, you would have shouted to us to do well.

“I want to assure you that I am not disturbed. It’s one of those things we see in politics, and I am sure that the right information is out there now, and I want them to controvert what we put out there.

“You are fathers to this state and you are also fathers to me, and I thank you for all the support you gave to me throughout my eight years in office.

“I believe that with your prayers, Delta State was peaceful throughout my 8 years in office, and I am glad for this warm visit because when your fathers come to visit and pray for you, all will be well with you,” he stated.

Earlier, the chairman of the traditional rulers’ council had said that their mission was in solidarity with the former governor over his travails with the EFCC, adding that they would continue to pray for him because he was good to them while in office.

“We know you want to excel and that is why they are worrying you. You are a good man, and we were all worried when all these started. Good men will always have problems, but let me assure you that you shouldn’t be worried because we will continue to pray for you.

“The enemies may be rejoicing that they have got you, but the law says until you are proven guilty, you are not guilty, and we know your hands are clean.

“We have come here to show solidarity with you and to tell you that we care about you because you are a nice man, and your relationship with traditional rulers has been cordial, and it will continue to be cordial.

“Not all of us may be here but we decided to send a delegation to tell you that we are behind you,” he said.

The ECOWAS Court of Justice on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, which sought N50 million in compensation from the Federal Government for each victim of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

In March 2022, terrorists bombed an Abuja-Kaduna railway near Rigasa, Kaduna, attacking over 970 passengers onboard. The incident led to fatalities, injuries, and abductions.

However, SERAP approached the court to hold the FG accountable for the incident, alleging human rights violations.

In an email to our correspondent on Thursday, the court stated that SERAP’s claims were inadmissible, as they did not satisfy the “victim status” requirement necessary for litigation under Article 10(d) of the Protocol.

The email read, “The ECOWAS Court of Justice has, on 13 November 2024, ruled on the case brought by the SERAP against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The case, which sought to hold Nigeria accountable for alleged human rights violations related to a terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train route in March 2022, was declared inadmissible due to the lack of victim status required for public interest litigation.

“SERAP filed the case following the terrorist attack on March 28, 2022, where armed assailants bombed a train carrying over 970 passengers along the Abuja-Kaduna rail line near Rigasa, Kaduna.

“The attack led to numerous fatalities, injuries, and abductions, with more than 150 individuals still unaccounted for. SERAP argued that Nigeria’s alleged lack of adequate preventive measures violated the rights of passengers to life, security, and dignity, and requested compensation of 50 million Naira for each passenger and victim’s family.

“In the judgment delivered by Justice Dupe Atoki, the Judge Rapporteur, the Court recognized its jurisdiction to hear the case as it involved potential human rights violations within a member state, in accordance with Article 9(4) of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol. However, the Court found the claim inadmissible on grounds that it failed to meet the victim status requirement essential for litigation under Article 10(d) of the same Protocol.

“In its findings, the Court said that SERAP claimed to be acting in the public interest, citing previous incidents of terrorism in the region, including attacks on educational institutions and transportation services. However, the Court determined that the case did not meet the criteria for a public interest action, or actio popularis, which requires that the alleged violations affect a large, indeterminate segment of the public or the general public itself.

“The victims of the March 28 attack were identifiable individuals rather than an indeterminate public group, making the claim unsuitable as a public interest litigation.

“The reliefs sought, including specific monetary compensation, were directed at the identifiable victims of the attack rather than the public at large.”

Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) have joined the defense team for four journalists accused of cyberstalking and defamation against GTCO, the parent company of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje.

The distinguished advocates, Asiwaju Kunle Kalejaye, SAN, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, and Kunle Adegoke, SAN, were present at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on Wednesday, accompanied by other legal representatives, including Barristers Olakunle Afolabi and Adebisi Adeniyi, as the trial progresses.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court denied the bail application for the four defendants in case number FHC/L/774C/2024. Justice Faji’s decision was based on affidavits filed by both the defense counsel and counter affidavits from the prosecution team.

The four journalists have been held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre since September following their arrests by the police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi.

Defense counsel Afolabi argued for bail on liberal terms pending arraignment, asserting that the alleged offenses are bailable.

The police have accused the journalists—Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and publishing false allegations against GTCO and Agbaje through their media platforms.

During cross-examination by Olalekan Ojo, SAN, in the ongoing trial-within-trial, police witness Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Abu Michael admitted that the video evidence presented does not capture any instance where the defendants waived their rights to legal representation before providing statements.

The defendants maintain they were coerced into giving statements despite informing the police that their lawyers were en route.

Justice Faji has requested evidence in the trial-within-trial to substantiate the police’s claim that the defendants voluntarily provided their statements. CSP Abu also indicated that the video recordings submitted as evidence were for the first and second defendants, while those for the third and fourth defendants were lost due to technical issues.

Abu noted that although the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), ASP Yaqob Sule, conducted the questioning, he monitored the proceedings from a separate room.

On Thursday, the prosecution team, led by Aribisala SAN, called ASP Yaqob Sule as the final witness in the trial-within-trial. Sule testified that the defendants voluntarily wrote their statements while in police custody.

Justice Faji adjourned the case to December 10 and 12, 2024, to allow the new defense counsels to confer with the defendants.

It should be noted that the House of Representatives recently launched an investigation into allegations of corruption, falsification of financial reports, and money laundering against Mr. Segun Agbaje, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), and the bank itself.

The investigation followed a petition submitted by Alhaji Yusuf Kabiru, President of the Arewa Consultative Youth Movement, and presented by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi from Delta State to the lawmakers.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee reportedly directed Guaranty Trust Holding Company to calculate and remit the Value Added Tax on commissions received from Remita transactions between 2015 and 2022 to the Federal Government.

The committee, chaired by Bamidele Salam, who represents Ede South/Ede North/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Constituency in Osun State, issued the directive during an ongoing investigation into alleged revenue leakages through the Remita platform. GTCO’s Executive Director, Mr. Ahmed Liman admitted that the bank had not remitted the VAT for eight years.

Additionally, the Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), a non-governmental organization, stormed the National Assembly on October 3, seeking a legislative probe into alleged “corruption, fraud, and financial irregularities” in the bank.

In a statement signed by Amb. Comr. Adebayo Lion Ogorry, Director of Publicity and Mobilization, the group claimed that a private investigator’s report revealed that under the leadership of Segun Julius Agbaje, GTCO had engaged in unsolicited account openings, declaration of fictitious profits, round-tripping, money laundering, terrorism financing, and the use of customers’ and investors’ funds to pay penalties in the United Kingdom.

The journalists currently undergoing trial had brought these issues to public attention in their publications.