Edwin Clark Petitions EFCC, Accuses Okowa Of Over N1.76 Trillion Misappropriation

Elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, has accused the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, of misappropriating the state’s derivative fund amounting to N1.760 trillion.

In his petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Clark alleged that Okowa is involved in the floating of Premium Bank, which he allegedly used to lodge all the derivation funds.

The convener of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), who spoke in an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, alleged the former governor used part of the derivation funds to build a university in his village and also put the funds into his 13 companies.

He added that Okowa sidelined the Delta state oil producing areas development commission (DESOPADEC), established to manage a 13 percent oil derivation fund to drive infrastructural development of the oil-producing communities in the state.

He said: “Okowa said he had been spending the money. Their answer was that they spent N5 billion on paying pensioners. How does that come under 13 percent?

And they also spent the money building a university in Okowa’s village. I mentioned in the letter [to the EFCC] that Okowa has 13 companies. I told him he put the 13 percent (derivation funds) into these 13 companies and let him deny it.

“The one paid to Delta state came to N1.767 trillion. Instead of paying 50 percent (of the N1.760 trillion) to the DESOPADEC as provided by the law, which is automatic, he now held the 13 percent fund — the entire money, dishing out instalmentally and approving every contract the DESOPADEC had awarded.

“So, Okowa has embezzled our money. It’s not even accounted for in his annual budget.”