Anti-Corruption group wants EFCC, ICPC to investigate ex-Delta governor

The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking Initiative (NACAT) has called on the two anti-graft agencies to investigate the former governor of Delta, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, over alleged misappropriation of state funds.

The Executive Director of Investigation of the anti-corruption group, Tega Oghenedoro, made the call at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oghenedoro alleged that billions of naira were misappropriated, diverted, and laundered during the administration of the former governor, which needed to be investigated by anti-corruption bodies.

He said that a petition had been submitted to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), requesting that they commence an investigation into the activities of the former governor while in office.

“We are at a loss at why the EFCC and ICPC have not started investigating and prosecuting him, in spite of looting over N500 billions of his state money.

“We have submitted petitions to such effect for months.

“A statesman from Delta has also submitted a petition.

“As a leading anti-corruption group in Nigeria, we will be failing in our duties and responsibilities if we turn a blind eye to the wanton corruption and embezzlement of public funds orchestrated by former governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and not bring it to the public domain

“We have painstakingly investigated and audited many of the financial records of the state available to us and detailed our findings here as part of our press briefing today,” he said.

Oghenedoro also alleged that, in spite of the over N3 trillion that came into the state coffers under Okowa, a staggering sum of N600 billion that cannot be accounted for was borrowed by him.

According to him, the former governor also left a debt profile of N480 billion and unpaid ongoing projects worth over N150 billion.

Reacting to the allegation, Mr. Olise Ifeajika, the spokesperson for Okowa, said the allegations were not new and commended the group for being whistleblowers.

Ifeajika said the group had done well by submitting a petition to the anti-graft agencies, urging them to allow the agencies to investigate the allegations.

He said his principal ruled the state with almost total transparency and observed due process in all his dealings as governor.

According to him, most of the allegations were frivolous and unfounded.

“The thing is not new; we have seen such allegations before, but they have done well to have sent petitions to the ICPC and EFCC.

That is okay. They are whistleblowers, but they should allow these authorities to do the investigations.

“They can’t be judges in their own case. They are the accusers, and they want to be judges at the same time,” he said.