Connect with us

News

EFCC Seizes Okowa’s Passport, Grants Him Bail

Published

on

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has withheld the international passport of the former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Okowa was arrested by the anti-graft agency on November 4, 2024, over an alleged diversion of N1.3tn derivation fund.

Advertisement

The N1.3trn amounted to a 13 per cent derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

He was also accused of failing to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40bn he allegedly claimed he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.

Okowa also allegedly bought shares of N40bn in one of the major banks in the country, representing eight per cent equity to float the offshore LNG.

Advertisement

According to sources in the commission, Okowa was at the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and was subsequently arrested by officials of the commission.

A source privy to the matter but not permitted to speak with journalists said Okowa had been released since last week Wednesday, after meeting his bail conditions.

The source said one of the conditions was to submit his travel documents with the agency, pending the conclusion of the matter.

Advertisement

“Okowa is no longer in our custody. He was released last Wednesday after meeting his bail conditions, which include depositing his travel documents with the commission, pending the conclusion of our investigations of the allegations against him.

READ ALSO: N1.3tn Fraud: Okowa Spends Second Night in EFCC Custody

“The sum allegedly is too huge to take risks. And what we have done is not out of place. This is to prevent anyone under investigation from jumping the bail he/she had been granted,” he said.

Advertisement

Several calls put through to the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were not answered.

He was also yet to respond to the message sent to him on the matter as of the time of filing this report.

Speaking on his trial, Okowa described the allegation that he misappropriated N1.3tn oil derivation funds while in office as laughable and totally false.

Advertisement

Speaking when he received the national leadership of Urhobo Progress Union, led by its President General, Chief Ese Owe, on a solidarity visit at his residence in Asaba, on Tuesday, Okowa said he was not worried by the EFCC invitation.

The former governor, who was speaking publicly on the issue for the first time since his return from honouring the EFCC invitation, said he was confident that he would come out clean.

READ ALSO: Nigeria, Seven Others Begin African-led HIV Vaccine Development

Advertisement

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifejika, the former governor disclosed that the petitioners were driven by mundane political considerations but asserted that he would continue to support Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to deliver on the mandate freely given to him by the Delta people.

“It was a petition written several months ago, but unfortunately, with the politics of our time, some people decided to ensure that Okowa must be invited by the EFCC.

“People are genuinely uncomfortable about Okowa and I was actually invited and I went there by myself and the first thing I saw was that they said I misappropriated N1.3tn. I said, do you know the kind of money you are talking about?

Advertisement

“To successfully take N1.3tn, it means you have to be taking between N16bn and N20bn every month into your pocket. I don’t even know if the President of this country will be able to do that, not to talk of the governor of Delta State.

“They have forgotten that the first in three years we came into office – 2015, 2016 and 2017 – the money that was coming into the state was not even enough to pay salaries at all.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Officers Over Murder Of Kwara Varsity Student

Advertisement

“Some local governments like Ethiope East were owing as much as 15 months salaries and even in the state here, some people were getting half salaries.

“Delta State is the highest salary-paying state in this nation; our salaries grew to the level that salaries and pensions went up to over N11bn in a month.

“There are some states whose total staff strength is less than 18,000, but here in Delta, we have over 56,000 workers,” he said.

Advertisement

The former governor added, “Workers always received their salaries promptly while we also embarked on all the projects that were done, and nobody thinks about it, especially the projects we did in the riverine areas. But, I know that the people are not happy with those who wrote the petition.”

He said, “Personally, I am not against investigation because the EFCC has to do its job, and I know that I have done everything how it ought to be done.

“For every allegation, they will investigate, and when they have found the truth, they will stop, but for those who sent a wrong communication, it is rather unfortunate.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: EFCC Arrests Ex-Delta Governor, Okowa Over Alleged Fraud

“I just pray for them because when you allow yourself to be used as a tool when evil starts to come, the impact will be so much, but I pray that God will forgive them.

“I know that by the special grace of God, we have done the things we ought to do to the best of our ability and by the special grace of God, Governor Oborevwori is beginning to do a lot.

Advertisement

“I believe that by next year, he will do a lot more. So, let me assure you that I will continue to support the UPU and the governor of the state as much as I can because I know that he has a lot to offer this state.”

He commended the UPU for its support to him over the years, saying, “I thank the UPU and the Urhobos because they supported me a lot and they also believe in equity because I always got more votes from them than their sons who contested against me.”

Earlier, the President-General of UPU had said that their visit was to thank the former governor for supporting their son, Oborevwori, to emerge as governor of the state.

Advertisement

News

Group Protests Alleged Sale Of Workers’ Housing Estate To NAF

Published

on

Bauchi State Concerned Citizens group has raised alarm over the alleged sale of 270 newly built housing units along Ningi-Kano Road, Bauchi, to the Nigerian Air Force.

Addressing the press, the group’s chairman, Comrade Aliyu Ladan, on Friday described the development as “an unfortunate and illegitimate move” that threatens the rights and welfare of Bauchi residents.

Advertisement

“The houses were part of a 1,000-unit project initiated under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to alleviate accommodation problems for workers.”

READ ALSO: NAF Debunks Fake Recruitment Advert, Warns Nigerians Against Fraudsters

He said the units had already been allocated to residents through a due process managed by the facility manager.

Advertisement

Ladan accused the Federal Ministry of Housing of negotiating with the Air Force to take over the estate, a move he described as “a complete violation of residents’ fundamental rights.”

The group called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that the decision could lead to unrest.

READ ALSO: NAF Airstrikes Kill Terrorists, Destroy Hideouts In Borno

Advertisement

The group demanded the cancellation of the alleged sale and urged the government to protect residents’ rights.

Responding, State Controller of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Architect Nwamadu Herbert, stated that although negotiations are ongoing, no transfer has been made as directives are awaited from the Ministry’s headquarters.

He dismissed the protesters as “illegal occupants,” clarifying that the houses remain under the ministry’s custody pending directives from headquarters.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

News

Bauchi Gov To Corps Members: Advocate For National Development, Transformation

Published

on

Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has called on all the Narional Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to always advocate for national development and transformation in the country.

Mohammed, who made the call during the swearing in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ stream 1 corps members on Friday, also urged them to take the noble call with utmost seriousness and commit themselves to achieve the scheme’s objective of national unity and development.

Advertisement

Represented by Mr Mohammed Umar, Head of Civil Service in the state, the governor assured the corps members that the people of the state appreciated and supported the goals and objectives of the NYSC scheme.

Therefore, we have decided to collaborate with you in every possible way to ensure the success of the Scheme in the State.

READ ALSO: NYSC Deploys 1,700 Corps Members To Bauchi State

Advertisement

“To this end, we have completed the renovation of corps members’ hostels and built a brand new Multipurpose Hall in the camp.

“This is the first phase of the project and the second phase, which I assure would start very soon shall include, construction of staff accommodation, a clinic and other necessary facilities.

“I can assure you that my government would continue to do anything within the limit of our resources to make the corps members and staff comfortable during orientation exercises in the camp,” he said.

Advertisement

Earlier, Mr Umoren Kufre, the state Coordinator of NYSC reminded the corps members that life in camp is highly regimented, adding that participants were expected to adhere to the orientation course timetable, NYSC Bye-laws, extant rules and other relevant policies.

READ ALSO: Cubana Chief Priest Mocks Hellen Atti Amid Paternity Dispute, Sparks Reactions Online

According to him, 1,107 corps members comprising 608 males and 499 females had been successfully registered before the commencement of the swearing in ceremony out of the 1,700 corps members posted to the state.

Advertisement

He commended the state governor for his unwavering commitment to the realisation of the NYSC objectives in the state.

I am indeed happy for the complete renovation of corps members’ hostels at the NYSC permanent orientation camp and the construction of a brand new Multi-purpose Hall.

“There can be no better demonstration of commitment, love and fatherly care than what we are seeing in the camp now.

Advertisement

“It is now clear for all to see that His Excellency is a great lover of the youths and particularly the corps members,” he said.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

JUST IN: NNPCL Boss, Ojulari Allegedly Forced To Resign

Published

on

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, has allegedly been forced to sign a resignation letter.

This is according to a Peoples Gazette report on Saturday.

Advertisement

According to the report, Ojulari was hijacked on Friday and pressured to sign a resignation letter by Ola Olukoyede, chairman of anti-graft EFCC, and Adeola Ajayi, director-general of the State Security Service.

It was reported that the alleged incident occurred on Friday, according to sources who spoke with the news platform.

Sources said Mr Ojulari was repeatedly questioned about what he might know of Olatimbo Ayinde, a British-Nigerian oil businesswoman who has recently emerged as one of the most powerful forces steering the Tinubu administration.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:JUST IN: Tinubu Sacks NNPCL CEO, Mele Kyari, Names Replacement

Mr Ojulari told us he didn’t know Olatimbo Ayinde,” the source, who preferred anonymity, told Peoples Gazette.

However, the spokesman of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, has not officially responded to the enquiry on the matter.

Advertisement

Also, Mr Ojulari did not immediately return multiple requests seeking comments about the development on Saturday afternoon.

Recall that NNPCL had recently raised alarm over sabotage of the state-owned oil firm’s leadership.

Ojulari was appointed in April 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending