Group Demands Immediate, Unconditional Release of Okowa

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

The Chairman of Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum and Board member of International Human Rights Commission, Prince Joseph Kpokpogri, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide clarity regarding the arrest of a former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa. 

Okowa, who was the vice-presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been arrested and currently being quizzed by operatives of the anti-graft agency.

He said the call for the release of Okowa was because there were concerns about the EFCC’s handling of high-profile cases and potential political motivations, demanding immediate and unconditional release of the former governor.

Kpokpogri, who made the call in Abuja at a news conference, criticised the agency’s decision to rely on unnamed sources and unverified allegations to act. 

He pointed out that Okowa voluntarily presented himself to the EFCC in Port Harcourt, demonstrating his willingness to cooperate, but the commission’s silence over the reason behind his arrest has become suspicious. 

“The EFCC should come clean on the invitation and arrest of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa,” Kpokpogri demanded.

He questioned the lack of transparency, especially since Okowa voluntarily presented himself to the EFCC in Port Harcourt.

He said: “Since the news went viral, I have waited patiently for an official statement from the EFCC on the detention of the former governor. 

“It is a given that the anti-graft agency usually makes public such high-profile arrest and detention to show that nobody is above the law.

“However, it is surprising that the EFCC has resorted to using ‘sources’ over such a sensitive matter. 

“As an anti-corruption crusader, I find it a little troubling that the agency is shying away from making its position known when former Governor Okowa honourably presented himself to the office of the anti-graft agency in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.”

Kpokpogri said Okowa ought to be commended for being unlike a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who has defied the EFCC and resisted every attempt to be arrested and arraigned. 

“This trial by the media using proxies is untenable, vexatious and unfortunate,” he added.

Kpokpogri expressed shock that the “very notion of mentioning such a staggering amount of N1.3 trillion was geared towards whipping up sentiments against the ex-governor, the PDP in Delta State and undercut his towering political status”.

According to him, “One is not oblivious of the political intrigues concerning Delta State aimed at undermining the PDP and weakened it at the grassroots and whip up the people to rebel against the party in future elections. If this is the intention, it has woefully failed.”

He said if such amount was stolen as alleged, “that means that salaries were not paid in Okowa’s eight years as governor”.

“It means that no roads were built, no hospitals were funded. In short, nothing was done in those eight years. Besides, what was the total federal and internal generated revenue of the state for N1.3 trillion to have gone missing?” He asked.

Kpokpogri went further to query the anti-graft agency over what he described as selective prosecution and media trial. 

“For context, we need to query the modus operandi of the EFCC. What has happened to the prosecution of some former governors that were taken to court by the agency? 

“For instance, Justice David Okorowa of the Federal High Court in Lafia ruled that former Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State should stand trial as he had a case to answer over allegations of N15 billion fraud. Po

“Also, in 2017, the EFCC said it would arraign Mohammed Nuraini Adamu, son of Abdullahi for alleged N92 million fraud. What happened? Nothing till date! Adamu went on to become National Chairman of the ruling APC. 

“Also, the Supreme Court ordered for the retrial of the corruption case of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State. 

“Till date, the case has gone cold with nothing from the EFCC. Of course, they and many more whose cases have been abandoned belong to the ruling party,” he said.

He however demanded the immediate release of Okowa, saying failure to do so will force the people of Delta State to occupy the commission’s office in Port Harcourt.