The oil and gas producing communities in Delta State has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's, EFCC, slow pace and delay in acting on its petition against former governor Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa "is very worrisome" and that "it is creating the wrong impression that is capable of giving more rooms for continuous diversion and misappropriation of the 13 per cent oil derivation funds."

Leaders of the group under the aegis of Association of Oil and Gas Producing Communities of Delta State, stated this in Abuja on Friday, January 19, 2024, at a news conference addressed on their behalf by Chief Sheriff Mulade of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

The statement was jointly signed by Chief Mulade; Sir Mathew Itsekure of the Itsekirii ethnic nationality; Hon. Mark Ikpuri, (Urhobo); Chief John Etenero (Isoko); and Comrade Osita Ijeoma (Ndokwa), Chief Godwin Ogbetuo, Vice Chairman, Delta State Elders Forum and Prince Maikpobi Okareme Poineer National Secretary, TROMPCON.

Recall that the group had last year petitioned the former governor of the state to account for the 13 per cent oil derivation funds he had received for eight years in the course of his administration and that amounted to over N1.2 trillion.

The group in its statement also called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the anti-graft agency to summon Okowa to account for the 13 per cent oil derivation funds while it also urged the EFCC to act swiftly on the petition in the interest of the downtrodden people of the Niger Delta.

Part of the speech read, “Sometime last year precisely 22nd May, 2023 we drew the attention of the nation to the alleged efforts by the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, to truncate the arm of justice.

“He governed the oil rich state from 2015-2023 and received the 13% oil derivation funds for eight years amounting to over N1.2trn meant for the physical development of our Oil Producing Communities of Delta State.

“We are constrained to address the press conference against the background of the graveyard silence on the matter before our indefatigable Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) even after a reminder letter was sent to the new Chairman of the Commission on the 30th of October, 2023 and 12th January, 2024.

“We have been inundated with daily arrogant comments and actions by the former Governor and his cohorts that midwifed these alleged deliberate diversions of the funds meant for the development of host communities.

“Although we were invited by the Commission to the Zonal Office at Port Harcourt in Rivers State having received our petition to attest to it, and a subsequent reminder as earlier mentioned.

“We are, however, worried about the slow pace which is giving an impression that indeed Senator lfeanyi Arthur Okowa and his cohorts are above the law and as such can neither be invited nor prosecuted.

“We are aware that within the arena of our laws, no one is above the law. We are therefore using this medium to draw the attention of the anti-graft agency to act swiftly in the interest of the downtrodden oil and gas producing communities in Delta State.”

The leaders noted with regret that the communities have been at the receiving end of negative environmental degradation as a result of oil exploration and exploitation activities which has destroyed the traditional occupation of fishing and crop farming with nothing tangible to show in their communities.

Going forward, they said: "It is worthy of note that for the interest of justice and members of our oil and gas producing communities, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa should be invited to account for our monies as others like the ongoing investigation on the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.

“Indeed we trust in the ability of the anti-graft agency, the EFCC to act, but the delay in taking action is very worrisome. It is creating the wrong impression, that is capable of giving more rooms for continuous diversion and misappropriation of the 13 per cent Oil derivation funds," they said.

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