The immediate-past governor of Delta State, has been accused of purchasing 80% shares at Premium Trust Bank PLC with funds meant for the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission, DESOPADEC.
The allegation was raised by host communities under DESOPADEC, who decried the paucity of funds the agency faced under Okowa’s watch.
In a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Okowa was also accused of acquiring numerous properties including the famous Jace Darls Hotels in Asaba.
Lamenting the poor performance of the commission under the Okowa administration, the communities said:
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“It is very nauseating that despite the stupendous Billions of Naira being paid to the Delta State Government from the 13% oil derivation fund from the Federation Account, The Oil Producing Areas/Communities continue to wallow in abject poverty with no commensurate social amenities and infrastructures in place.
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“This gross and reckless misappropriation of the 13% oil derivation fund meant for the Oil Producing Communities largely account for the incessant restiveness and agitations in the Niger Delta Region.
“We are strongly appealing to the Commission saddled with the responsibility to probe and Investigate the immediate-past Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, to recover and return our money of the 50% of the 13% Oil derivation fund from the Federation Account to the State Government and render necessary Account for the said illegally and unlawfully misappropriated balance to DESOPADEC coffers, to enable them Development our communities.
“It will interest the public to note that the immediate-past Governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa used our 13% derivation funds to build and buy over 80% shares in Premium Trust Bank Plc and acquire numerous properties including Jace Darl Hotels in Asaba, the state capital, Abuja and Lagos etc for himself and his daughter, Mrs Mariyln Okowa-Daramola.
The communities also accused Okowa of an alleged plan to rename an institution in the state in his name.
“The Immediate-past Governor, Senator, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa went further to use our 13% derivation funds to develop his village which is not part of oil producing communities in Delta State, with proposed plans to rename state institution in his honour particularly (University of Delta, Agbor, Delta State).
“There will be relative peace and development in the Niger Delta Region if the stupendous oil funds which accrue to the oil producing Areas/Communities from the 13% Oil derivation Fund are judiciously used for the rehabilitation and development of the Oil Producing Areas/Communities.
“We want to strongly appeal to your indefatigable commission to kindly reject any offer from the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa who has boosted to have made concrete arrangement with top officials of the EFCC for a plea bargain to the deterrent of the oil and gas producing Communities of the State.
“It is in view of the above, we appeal to your good Office for your prompt intervention to diligently probe and investigate the allocations and the deployment of our 13% oil derivation funds accrued and disbursed to the Delta State Government from the Federation Account from 2015 – 2023 with paid attention to the 50% of the 13% oil derivation fund prescribed by the DESOPADEC law of 2006 (as amended), 2007, 2015 and 2018 respectively.”
