Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, immediate past Gov of Delta State
By Jon Egie
Barring any unforseen eventuality, the immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa may soon be a guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to answer questions based on allegations of embezzlement of public funds.
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This is sequel to a petition written by Pa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), who has alleged that Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor of Delta, misappropriated the State’s 13% oil derivation fund amounting to N1.767 trillion.
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In an interview with TheCable, yesterday, EK Clark said he had written to the EFCC over the involvement of Okowa in the floating of Premium Trust Bank, which he (Okowa) allegedly used to lodge all the derivation funds.
According to Pa EK Clark, the former governor “autocratically mismanaged the funds”and sidelined the Delta State Oill Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), an interventionist agency established by law, to manage 13% oil derivation fund, to drive infrastructural development of the oil-producing communities in Delta State.
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The petitioner said the claim by Okowa and his men that they used part of the money to pay pensioners and built a university in Owa-Alero, Okowa’s home community was not acceptable.
He accused Okowa of floating 13 companies with money meant for the development of oil producing communities in Delta State and challenged Okowa to deny the accusation.
“Okowa said he had been spending the money. Their answer was that they spent N5 billion on paying pensioners. How does that come under 13 percent?”EK Clark asked.
” And they also spent the money building a university in Okowa’s village. I mentioned in the letter to EFCC, that Okowa has 13 companies, I told him he put the 13 percent derivation funds into these 13 companies and let him deny it.”
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EK Clark pointed out that the sum total of money released by the Federal Government to Delta State as 13% oil derivation funds was N1.767 trillion and rather than disbursing 50% of the funds to the interventionist agency, DESOPADEC, he held fast to the money and ditched out paltry sums in installments and went about approving contracts by himself.
“The one paid to Delta state came to N1.767 trillion. Instead of paying 50 percent (of the N1.760 trillion) to the DESOPADEC as provided by the law, which is automatic, he now held the 13 percent fund — the entire money, dishing out instalmentally and approving every contract the DESOPADEC had awarded.
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” So, Okowa has embezzled our money. It’s not even accounted for in his annual budget”. Pa EK Clark said
Credit: TheCable
