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

Former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa had reportedly sought to retrieve his international passport from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Naija News reported that Okowa had visited the Lagos office of the EFCC in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure.

However, sources who spoke to Punch linked the former governor visit to the anti-graft agency as part of efforts to retrieve his travel document to enable him to attend to medical issues abroad.

The former governor was arrested on November 4, 2024, and subsequently questioned at the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the commission.

A source familiar with the development said the former governor’s visit to the Lagos office was connected to ongoing discussions regarding the release of his passport.

“No, he was not arrested; he was at the commission’s Lagos office as part of the ongoing investigation into his case.

“Also, he made moves to secure the release of his international passport to attend to some medical issues abroad,” one of the sources said.

However, it was not immediately clear whether the former governor succeeded in obtaining the document.

The EFCC has retained the international passport of Okowa since his arrest on November 4, 2024, over allegations of diverting ₦1.3tn in 13 per cent derivation funds received by the state from the Federation Account between 2015 and 2023.

The anti-graft agency is also investigating allegations that Okowa failed to account for the funds and another ₦40 billion allegedly used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas and a major commercial bank.

He was arrested in Port Harcourt and later granted bail after meeting the conditions set by the commission.

The allegations remained under investigation by the EFCC, while the former governor denied the allegations after he was released.