Okowa Denies ₦500bn Refund to Avoid EFCC Prosecution
Former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has strongly denied reports that he refunded over ₦500 billion to the Delta State Government as part of a secret deal to avoid prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The rumors, which have spread widely in the state, alleged that Okowa covertly returned the large sum to escape legal troubles, maintain political relevance, and secure a favorable deal with anti-corruption authorities. However, Okowa, through his Chief Press Secretary, Olise Ifeajirika, dismissed the claims as completely untrue and politically motivated.
“There is no truth whatsoever in the allegation that Governor Okowa refunded ₦500 billion. The EFCC is free to do its job. He was invited, presented with documents, and he responded appropriately,” Ifeajirika stated.
He explained that while EFCC investigations are ongoing in the state and people have been invited for questioning, there has been no official finding or directive involving refunds or charges against the former governor. “No money was returned either to the EFCC or to the Delta State Government,” he stressed.
These developments come amid a wave of political realignments in the state. Okowa, along with his successor and political ally, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The high-profile defection has sparked speculation that the switch may be tied to efforts to avoid EFCC scrutiny.
On Tuesday, Oborevwori met with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in a closed-door meeting — his first since joining the APC. The governor’s visit to the presidency further fueled political speculation about behind-the-scenes deals.
The defection marks a significant political shift in the South-South region. On April 23, 2025, Oborevwori became the first sitting Delta governor to leave the PDP since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. Accompanied by his deputy, commissioners, and key PDP grassroots figures, the mass move to the APC was orchestrated by Okowa, who was the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate.
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