Former Governor banned from travelling outside Nigeria as EFCC begins investigation – Crime Channels
The anti-graft agency reportedly arrested and detailed Okowa last week for allegedly diverting N1.3 trillion in public funds, but he was granted administrative bail on Sunday.
According to the Guardian it was learnt that Okowa’s passport was allegedly seized by EFCC as part of his bail condition.
Okowa was arrested last Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, when he reported at the EFCC office following an invitation extended to him over the said amount being part of a 13 percent derivation fund earmarked for oil-producing states.
He was said to have allegedly diverted the money between 2015 and 2023 when he was the governor of Delta State.
When contacted for confirmation, the EFCC Spokesman, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said it is the normal practice for law enforcement agencies to seize passports and other relevant documents pending the conclusion of investigations.
He said, “That is normal practice in law enforcement; when you grant somebody bail, you ask for the person’s international passport and some other conditions. It is normal.”
