Okowa’s Aide Forges Principal’s Signature, Defrauds Delta Govt Of N14m

The Special Adviser on Students Affairs to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Francis Osedume is currently being investigated by the Department of State Services for allegedly defrauding the state government of a whooping N14 million.

Francis is said to have carried out the act after forging the signature of one of his principals, Jerry Ehiwarior.

Osedume who was sacked by Governor Okowa over the forgery of signatures, was also expelled from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, for related offenses.

According to sources in the Delta State Government, the former Student Union Government President of the Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku who formerly worked with Union Bank, was also sacked after being linked to fraudulent activities.

“While at Union Bank, he also forged the signature of the Students Union Government executive of his former school, Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic, thereby clearing the account of the said union.

“He was appointed S.A. in 2019 when the governor visited one of the tertiary institutions and watched him speak, an act that impressed him and got him appointed on the spot.

“He is Special Assistant while Jerry Ehiwarior is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor. Jerry was appointed in 2015,” a top source said.

Another source stated, “Osedume has been sacked for forgery and Impersonation. He was sacked for forging the signature of Comrade Jerry Ehiwarior, SSA to the Governor on Students affairs to defraud the state government of over a N14million.

“The case is currently with the Department of State Services, (DSS), Delta State Command. Before now, the former S.A. Students, Francis, stole the files of the SSA, and that was when the forgery happened.”

It was gathered that Osedume sent the letter with the forged signature to the governor for approval of about N14million.

“Any approval from him must pass through Jerry, so he forged Jerry’s signature and sent it to the governor. That was when the bubble burst,” a senior official stated.