Why Ifeanyi Okowa Visted EFCC Office In Lagos

Former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa visited the Lagos office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday.

It was gathered that the EFCC is investigating allegations of financial misconduct during Okowa’s time in office.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), sources familiar with the matter said Okowa was seen at the EFCC Lagos Directorate 1 office on Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

The investigation centres on claims that funds allocated to Delta State through the 13 per cent derivation revenue from the Federation Account were mismanaged or diverted between 2015 and 2023, the period when Okowa served as governor.

The former governor had earlier been arrested by the EFCC on November 4, 2024, and questioned at the commission’s Port Harcourt office over allegations relating to how the oil-producing state’s derivation funds were handled during his eight years in power.

At the time, reports indicated that the anti-graft agency were investigating claims that part of the money was channelled into private investments and used to acquire properties in different parts of the country.

Sources within the anti-corruption agency said Okowa’s latest visit to the Lagos office was connected to a request for the release of his international passport so he could travel overseas for medical treatment.

However, it was not immediately known whether the EFCC approved the request.

The case has remained one of the agency’s most closely followed investigations involving a former governor.

Although no formal charges have been filed against Okowa, the probe has continued since details of the investigation became public in late 2024.

Okowa, who served as the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and stated that he is willing to cooperate fully with investigators.

In April 2025, Ifeanyi Okowa left the PDP and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and several other political figures in the state.

His defection sparked debate about whether the EFCC investigation would continue, but the commission insisted that the case remained active.

Last month, the former senator secured the APC senatorial ticket for Delta North ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Attempts to get an official reaction from the EFCC were unsuccessful. The commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, did not respond to calls seeking comments at the time of filing this report.

The EFCC has also not made public the outcome of Monday’s meeting or whether it has granted Okowa’s request for the release of his travel documents.

ALSO READ: EFCC Arrests Delta Ex-Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa Over Alleged Diversion Of N1.3 Trillion