By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that the immediate past governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is in their custody.
Spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Dele Oyewale, confirmed ex-governor Okowa’s arrest exclusively to NIGER DELTA TODAY Online on Monday night.
Oyewale revealed the development when contacted on telephone by this medium.
“It’s true, he (Senator Ifeanyi Okowa) is with us”, Oyewale told our correspondent on Monday night.
When, however asked, on the reasons for the arrest of Senator Okowa, the EFCC spokesman declined to give details.
Okowa was governor of Delta from 2015 to 2023 and he was a former running mate to 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
It was gathered that Okowa was detained by the operatives of the commission over alleged diversion Delta State Government funds running into N1.3 trillion.
The former Delta governor is being accused of diverting the said funds between 2015 and 2023.
It was gathered that Okowa was arrested on Monday and he is being detained at the EFCC Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
Recall that prominent Deltans including South-South leader and convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark had accused Okowa of misappropriating 13% derivation accruing to the state.