Former Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Seeks Passport Release for Medical Trip Amid EFCC Probe
Former Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa has reportedly approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to obtain his international passport. The move is aimed at enabling him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Sources told Punch that Okowa’s visit to the EFCC’s Lagos office was part of ongoing discussions about the release of his travel document. They emphasized that he was not under arrest during the visit but was participating in the continued investigation of his case.
Okowa was initially arrested on 4 November 2024 at the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the commission and later granted bail after meeting the commission’s conditions. Since his arrest, the EFCC has retained his passport while probing allegations of financial misconduct.
The anti‑graft agency accuses Okowa of diverting ₦1.3 trillion in 13 percent derivation funds allocated to Delta State from the Federation Account between 2015 and 2023. Additionally, investigators allege that he failed to account for ₦40 billion allegedly used to acquire shares in a UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas project and a major commercial bank.
Okowa has denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence as the EFCC’s investigation continues. It remains unclear whether he has successfully retrieved his passport for the planned medical trip.
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