Two human rights organisations, the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum, and the International Human Rights Commission, on Tuesday, criticised the arrest and detention of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the alleged misuse of N1.3tn, describing him as a victim of political persecution.
PUNCH Online reports that Dr Okowa was arrested by the EFCC on Monday over allegations of embezzling N1.3tn belonging to Delta State.
The Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum and Board Member of the IHRC, Joseph Kpokpogri, at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, questioned the EFCC’s methods, stating that the commission should grant Okowa bail based on self-recognition.
According to him, Okowa should be commended for demonstrating maturity, unlike former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who has defied the EFCC and resisted every attempt to be arrested and arraigned.
He said the two organisations would occupy the EFCC’s Regional Office in Port Harcourt to protest the alleged politically motivated victimisation of Okowa, should the commission fail to substantiate the allegations against the former governor.
He said, “It is troubling that the agency is avoiding making its position known when former Governor Okowa honourably presented himself to the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“Dr Okowa should be commended for his conduct, unlike former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who has defied the EFCC and resisted every attempt to be arrested and arraigned. This trial by the media, using proxies, is untenable, vexatious, and unfortunate.
“One cannot ignore the political manoeuvring surrounding Delta State, aimed at undermining the PDP and weakening it at the grassroots level, to incite the people to rebel against the party in future elections. If this was the intention, it has woefully failed.
“It is important to note that for N1.3 trillion to have allegedly been stolen, it would imply that salaries were not paid during Okowa’s eight years as governor. It would mean that no roads were built, and no hospitals were funded. In short, nothing was achieved during those eight years.
Moreover, what was the total federal and internally generated revenue of the state for N1.3 trillion to have gone missing?”
