EFCC Probe: Okowa Moves To Recover Passport For Medical Trip Abroad

Former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has reportedly applied for the release of his international passport, which is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to enable him to seek medical treatment abroad, Punch reports.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Okowa recently visited the EFCC office on Awolowo Road in Lagos as part of ongoing engagements with the anti-graft agency regarding the request.

The sources clarified that the former governor was not under arrest during the visit but was meeting with officials handling the investigation into allegations against him.

“He was not arrested. He only visited the Lagos office in connection with the ongoing investigation and also requested the release of his international passport to attend to medical issues outside the country,” a source disclosed.

As of the time of filing this report, it remained unclear whether the commission had approved the request.

Attempts to obtain an official response from the EFCC were unsuccessful, as the agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, did not respond to telephone calls.

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Okowa’s passport has remained with the EFCC since his arrest on November 4, 2024, over allegations involving the diversion of about N1.3 trillion in 13 percent derivation funds received by Delta State from the Federation Account between 2015 and 2023.

The commission is also investigating claims that the former governor failed to account for the funds, as well as another N40 billion allegedly invested in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas and a major commercial bank.

Following his arrest in Port Harcourt, Okowa was granted bail after meeting the conditions set by the EFCC, while investigations into the allegations continued.

The former governor has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Speaking after his release, he dismissed the allegations, arguing that it would be unrealistic for a governor to divert such an enormous sum.

He also noted that during the early years of his administration, particularly between 2015 and 2017, Delta State struggled with limited revenue that was barely sufficient to meet salary obligations.

Efforts to obtain comments from one of his associates, Charles Aniagwu, were unsuccessful as of press time.