A major story has come out about former Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. It is being reported that he quietly returned more than N500 billion (that’s 500 billion naira!) to the Delta State Government. This happened while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was still investigating how money was spent during his time as governor.
The news, gathered by The Trumpet Newspaper, suggests that Okowa agreed to return the money so he wouldn’t face charges in court. Some people believe he did it to keep his political influence strong.
What Okowa Said
Okowa was recently interviewed on Arise TV. He was asked about moving to a different political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and if he did that to escape punishment. But he confidently said:
“I have not done anything wrong. I was not arrested. I only went to answer the EFCC’s questions. Anyone can make a complaint, and EFCC has to check it out.”
What Some Party Members Are Saying
But here’s where the story gets even more interesting. A former top member of Okowa’s old party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—who also moved to the APC—told reporters something different.
This person said Okowa made a secret deal with the EFCC. The deal? Return over N500 billion of government money that may not have been properly used.
Why It Matters
Thanks to that money being returned, the current Delta State government is now able to work on many big projects—like roads and buildings—without borrowing money from banks. Some of these projects have already received 40% of the money needed to start, all from the funds returned.
A Shift in Politics
Before now, Okowa was a very powerful figure in the PDP and had a big say in who became the next leader in the state. But since he moved to the APC, his power in the PDP has become weaker. One political leader explained that the move was meant to reduce Okowa’s stronghold on the party.
“It would have been hard to stop him from controlling everything in the PDP. But now that he has moved to APC, he can’t control things like before,” the source explained.
What This Means for Okowa
Some believe that by returning a large amount of money, Okowa is trying to stay safe from legal trouble and prepare for a future political comeback.
For now, the EFCC investigation continues, and many are watching closely to see what happens next.
