Ifeanyi Okowa, the former governor of Delta State, has refuted claims that he made a secret deal to escape being charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by returning more than ₦500 billion to the state government.
In order to avoid legal repercussions, maintain political power, and maybe negotiate a soft landing with anti-graft authorities, the former governor allegedly surreptitiously repaid the enormous cash.
However, Okowa rejected the allegations as untrue and unfounded while responding via Mr. Olise Ifeajirika, his chief press secretary.
“It’s not true that my boss, Okowa, returned such money. The EFCC is at liberty to do its job,” Ifeajirika said.
“He (Okowa)was invited and shown documents, and he responded accordingly. The EFCC has been visiting Delta State and inviting people for questioning. We believe the investigation is still ongoing. Only when it is concluded and a case is established can issues of refunds or prosecution arise.
“There is no truth to claims of returning money to the Delta State Government or the EFCC,” he added.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwor, Okowa’s predecessor and political mentor, left the Peoples Democratic Party to join the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Oborevwori, President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Delta governor entered a private meeting with the president after arriving at the Villa alone at about 3:45 p.m.
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He would meet Tinubu for the first time since switching from the PDP to the ruling APC.
Since Nigeria’s restoration to democracy in 1999, Oborevwori became the first incumbent governor of Delta State to leave the PPDP on April 23, 2025.
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In a dramatic political realignment, Oborevwori, his deputy, Monday Onyeme, the commissioners, local government chairmen, and the PDP’s grassroots structures also defected to the APC following a closed-door meeting in Asaba.
Okowa, who served as the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, led the mass defection, signaling a major power shift in the South-South.
