The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has barred former Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifewanyi Okowa from leaving the country following the seizure of his passport as part of his bail conditions.
Okowa was reportedly detained by the EFCC last week over allegations of diverting N1.3 trillion in public funds and was granted administrative bail on Sunday.
The EFCC summoned Okowa to its Port Harcourt office last Monday, where he was detained in connection with funds earmarked for oil-producing states under the 13 per cent derivation allocation.
The funds said to have been misappropriated between 2015 and 2023 during Okowa’s tenure as Delta governor, have raised significant concerns.
Confirming the passport seizure to The Guardian, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, explained that “it is standard practice for law enforcement agencies to retain passports and other documents as part of bail conditions pending the conclusion of investigations.”
He said, “That is normal practice in law enforcement; when you grant somebody bail, you ask for the person’s international passport and some other conditions. It is normal.”
In a related development, Okowa has stated that political considerations drove the EFCC invitation over the allegation of N1.3 trillion oil derivation.
Okowa made this known when the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, paid him a visit at his residence in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
