Olisa Ifeajika, the media aide to former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has clarified that his principal’s recent invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has nothing to do with an alleged 13 percent derivation fund diversion.
According to Ifeajika, Okowa was invited by the anti-graft agency because of some petitions written against him.
Ifeajika in a statement released on Monday wrote, “The allegation that the former governor allegedly diverted N1.3 trillion oil derivation funds is as ludicrous as it is outlandish. This is just a rehash of the same spurious allegations that some malicious, myopic, vindictive, and prejudiced persons concocted while Okowa was still in office.
“These haters simply latched on to the EFCC invitation to launch a well-orchestrated propaganda, using their hirelings and hack writers in a section of the media. It is obvious that these people, including their puppets in the media, are bereft of commonsense. Otherwise, how can anybody in his right mind allege that N1.3 trillion was diverted for personal use? Are we to believe that Okowa’s administration did not pay salaries or execute a single project in eight years?
“It will take an individual to appropriate an average of N16billion every month for eight years to amass a whooping sum of N1.3 trillion as alleged. The implication of such a scenario happening is that there will be no money to run the government or pay the salaries of the state’s almost 50,000 workforce. Prejudice is a terrible thing, and those caught in its web, often develop a warped sense of reasoning.”
Further, the statement said: “With few exceptions, the media reports and commentaries have been mostly sensational, mischievous, and gross misrepresentations and distortions of the facts of the matter. They fall far short of the journalistic standards of factual reporting, fairness, balance, and simple logic.
“Most of these reports are riddled with outright lies, wild conjectures, and unverifiable claims, with the unmistakable diabolical intent to beguile and incite the unsuspecting public against Dr. Okowa. But you cannot pull down him whom God has lifted. Like previous failed attempts to drag Dr Okowa’s name in the mud, this renewed offensive against him by his traducers is an exercise in futility.
“The first point that needs to be made is that the EFCC has not established any case against Dr. Okowa. As is customary with the anti-graft agency, the former governor was invited to answer questions relating to some petitions that were filed against him by some disgruntled elements.
“Upon his return from vacation, and as a man with a clear conscience, Dr. Okowa proceeded to the EFCC office in Port Harcourt as requested. The substance of the petitions was that Dr. Okowa allegedly corruptly enriched himself and used state resources to acquire 80 percent stake in Premium Trust Bank. He was also alleged to have diverted state resources to build housing estates in Asaba and Abuja and two hotels.”
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