News
N1.3 trillion fraud: EFCC confirms arrest, detention of ex-gov Okowa
By Francesca Hangeior.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a former governor of Delta, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, over alleged N1. 3 trillion fraud.
A credible sources within the anti-graft agency confirmed that the vice presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections was arrested in Port Harcourt, when he reported at the Port Harcourt Directorate of the EFCC.
Reports have it that Okowa, was arrested for allegedly diverting N1.3 trillion being proceeds of 13 per cent derivation fund that accrued to the state during his tenure.
He was alleged to have diverted the fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023 when he held sway in the oil-rich state.
Officials of the commission, who did not want their names in print, said that Okowa had earlier been invited by a team of crack detectives of the agency handling his case.
One of the sources said that he was arrested and would have to provide satisfactory answers to the questions posed to him regarding financial impropriety under his watch.
The former governor was also alleged to have failed to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.
Specifically, Okowa allegedly bought shares valued at N40 billion in one of the major banks in the country representing eight per cent equity to float the offshore LNG.
When contacted, Dele Oyewale, the spokesman of the anti-graft agency, confirmed Okowa presence in the facility of the commission but he declined further comments further.
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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