N1.2tn Derivation Funds: Delta Oil Communities Allege EFCC Ignored Petition against Okowa

Sunday  Aborisade in Abuja

The oil and gas producing communities in Delta State, yesterday, alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) deliberately ignored their petition against the former governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, pending before it.

They have therefore asked President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the anti-graft agency to summon Okowa so that he could account for the 13 per cent oil derivation funds for eight years amounting to over N1.2 trillion received and spent by his administration. 

Leaders under the aegis of Association of Oil and Gas Producing Communities of Delta State, stated this in Abuja at a news conference addressed on their behalf by Chief Mulade Sheriff of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

The group also urged the EFCC to act swiftly on the petition in the interest of the downtrodden people of the Niger Delta.

The statement was jointly signed by Mulade; Sir Mathew Itsekure of the Itsekirii ethnic nationality; Hon. Mark Ikpuri, (Urhobo); Chief John Etenero (Isoko); and Comrade Osita Ijeoma (Ndokwa).

Others were Chief Godwin Ogbetuo, Vice Chairman, Delta State Elders Forum and Prince Maikpobi Okareme Poineer National Secretary TROMPCON.

The people in their written speech, lamented that the anti-graft agency had been reluctant to act on their petition by inviting Okowa to account for the N1.2 trillion which his administration allegedly collected as the 13 per cent derivation fund for eight years.

He said the EFCC’s silence approach being adopted, had confirmed that insinuations by the former governor’s associates that the petition was dead on arrival.

Part of the prepared speech read, “Sometime last year precisely 22nd May, 2023 we drew the attention of the nation to the alleged efforts by the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, to truncate the arm of justice. 

“He governed the oil rich state from 2015-2023 and received the 13% oil derivation funds for eight years amounting to over N1.2trn meant for the physical development of our Oil Producing Communities of Delta State.

“We are constrained to address the press conference against the background of the graveyard silence on the matter before our indefatigable Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) even after a reminder letter was sent to the new Chairman of the Commission on the 30th of October, 2023 and 12th January, 2024. 

“We have been inundated with daily arrogant comments and actions by the former Governor and his cohorts that midwifed these alleged deliberate diversions of the funds meant for the development of host communities.

“Although we were invited by the Commission to the Zonal Office at Port Harcourt in Rivers State having received our petition to attest to it, and a subsequent reminder as earlier mentioned.

“We are, however, worried about the slow pace which is giving an impression that indeed Senator lfeanyi Arthur Okowa and his cohorts are above the law and as such can neither be invited nor prosecuted.

“We are aware that within the arena of our laws, no one is above the law. We are therefore using this medium to draw the attention of the anti-graft agency to act swiftly in the interest of the downtrodden oil and gas producing communities in Delta State.”

The leaders noted with regret that the communities have been at the receiving end of negative environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration and exploitation activities which has destroyed the traditional occupation of fishing and crop farming with nothing tangible to show in our communities.

They said, “It is worthy of note that for the interest of justice and members of our oil and gas producing communities, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa should be invited to account for our monies as others like the ongoing investigation on the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. 

“Indeed we trust in the ability of the anti-graft agency, the EFCC to act, but the delay in taking action is very worrisome.

“It is creating the wrong impression, that is capable of giving more rooms for continuous diversion and misappropriation of the 13 per cent Oil derivation funds.