A good governance advocacy group, the New Delta Coalition (NDC), has described the recent arrest and detention of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged misappropriation of N1.3 trillion in Delta State funds as “shocking but hardly surprising”. In a statement signed by its convener, Mr.
Godwin Anaughe, the NDC expressed dismay over Okowa’s alleged misuse of funds estimated at approximately N1.3 trillion—derived from the state’s 13 per cent derivation allocation between 2015 and 2023, which was intended to benefit Delta residents. Okowa was alleged to have diverted the funds to acquire luxury properties in Abuja and Asaba.
The NDC described Okowa’s administration as one “marked by systemic corruption, lack of transparency and impunity”, claiming that these issues hindered Delta’s development and impoverished communities despite substantial federal allocations. The coalition praised the EFCC action and called for a thorough investigation to recover any looted funds and prosecute those involved. The group also criticized Okowa’s questionable investment of N40 billion in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG), which it alleged was diverted from its original purpose.
The NDC labelled these actions as “a betrayal of public trust”, asserting that Okowa’s leadership left Delta State struggling with unpaid salaries, pension debts and growing debt burdens. The coalition further scrutinize.
