By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) has clarified that former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, stays underneath investigation for alleged monetary misconduct regardless of his latest defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The clarification got here throughout a press briefing in Abuja marking the second anniversary of EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in workplace.
Addressing journalists, the Fee’s Director of Authorized and Prosecution, Sylvanus Tahir, dismissed claims that politicians who be a part of the ruling occasion are robotically protected against investigation or prosecution.
“Somebody requested whether or not politicians who cross over to the ruling occasion are shielded. The straightforward reply is that it’s not true,” Tahir mentioned.
“To the most effective of my data, the case involving a former governor of Delta State continues to be underneath investigation, and in the end, justice might be served.”
Okowa, who ruled Delta State from 2015 to 2023, is being investigated by the EFCC for alleged mismanagement of state funds throughout his tenure.
In April 2025, the previous governor — who was additionally the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Get together (PDP) within the 2023 basic election — defected to the APC alongside his successor, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and different political figures within the state.
Tahir defined that the EFCC prefers to finish investigations completely earlier than continuing to court docket, significantly in high-profile or politically delicate instances.
“We’ve got had conditions the place instances had been rushed to court docket, and the outcomes weren’t all the time passable. So, we’d slightly do an intensive job,” he mentioned.
“After we go to court docket, Nigerians will see what the case is about. There is no such thing as a try or intention to protect anyone on account of occasion affiliation — actually not underneath this management.”
Responding to criticisms in regards to the tempo of convictions involving politically uncovered individuals, Tahir maintained that the EFCC treats all instances equally.
“It’s been claimed that there aren’t any high-profile convictions. For us, crime is crime.
“When coping with politically uncovered individuals, investigations might be advanced and time-consuming. As an example, a governor who managed a state for eight years — no matter allegations come up from his tenure — requires detailed scrutiny,” he added.
Tahir’s remarks come amid rising public concern over the notion that some politicians underneath investigation search refuge within the ruling occasion to evade accountability.
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