Members of oil and gas producing communities of Delta State have stormed the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to demand for the probe of the immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for illegal and unlawful diversion of host communities 13 percent oil derivation funds.
The protesters led by human and environmental rights advocate, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, stormed EFCC demanding the commission to invite the immediate past governor, Okowa to account for the 50 percent exclusively earmarked for oil and gas producing communities, through the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, to develop the communities which was diverted for his personal interest.
In a release made available to newsmen and signed by prominent members of the ethnic nationalities of the oil producing areas of the state, the immediate past governor of the state was accused of misappropriating the sum of N1,077,450,285,552.17.
“It is very disheartening and callous to note that despite the copious and unambiguous provisions of Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 13 (1) of the DESOPADEC Law of 2006 (as amended), 2007, 2015 and 2018 respectively, the immediate past governor has deliberately and flagrantly abused, violated and breached the above provisions of the law and continued to misappropriate the said funds for his personal use at the expense of the suffering people of the oil and gas host communities.
The protesters noted that from the information obtained, it was obvious that the state government grossly underfunded DESOPADEC as it was in the habit of consistently and deliberately disbursing less than N20billion annually for the Okowa eight years. This was confirmed by the immediate-past state commissioner for Information to the former Governor, Mr Charles Aniagwu that the state remitted only 208bn against N539 billion.
They noted with dismay that all efforts by leaders of the host communities and other well-meaning personalities in the state to make the Delta State Government to obey, observe and comply with the DESOPADEC law and render account for the said misappropriated fund, have proved abortive hence the petition.
“It will interest the public to note that the immediate-past governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa used our 13 per cent derivation funds to build and buy over 80 per cent 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.”
“It is very nauseating that despite the several billions of naira that has accrued to the Delta State Government from the 13 per cent oil derivation fund from the Federation Account, the oil producing communities continue to wallow in abject poverty without commensurate social amenities and infrastructures in place. This gross and reckless misappropriation of the 13 percent oil derivation fund meant for the oil producing communities largely account for the incessant restiveness and agitations in the Niger Delta region”, the protesters lamented, adding that Okowa went further to use the derivation funds to develop his village which is not part of oil producing communities in Delta State.
They claimed there would be relative peace and development in the Niger Delta Region if the oil funds which accrue to the oil communities from the 13 percent oil derivation are judiciously used for the rehabilitation and development in those communities.
They appealed to the EFCC boss to investigate the former governor for financial recklessness.
“Sir, 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 per cent oil derivation funds accrued and disbursed to the Delta State Government from the Federation Account from 2015 – 2023 with paid attention to the 50 per cent of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund prescribed by the DESOPADEC Law of 2006 (as amended), 2007, 2015 and 2018 respectively,” part of the petition read.
Community leaders who signed the release include Chief Mulade Sheriff (Ijaw Ethnic Nationality), Sir Mathew Itsekure (Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality), Mrs Patience Ego Afujue (Ndokwa Ethnic Nationality), Hon Mark Ikpuri (Urhobo Ethnic Nationality) and Chief John Etenero (Isoko Ethnic Nationality).
