Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have appealed for prayers following the arrest of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged mismanagement of N1.3 trillion.

The Director General of the Delta State Guidance and Communications Bureau, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, speaking on behalf of the government, urged Deltans to pray for Okowa during this difficult time, stressing that “Okowa is innocent until proven guilty”.

Oghenesivbe said the former governor’s arrest does not tarnish his admirable reputation, pointing out that under the legal principle of presumption of innocence, Okowa can be questioned and released without prosecution unless proven guilty in court.

He further explained that the EFCC invites suspects based on criminal allegations, which may or may not be true, and that the law recognizes the innocence of all accused persons until proven otherwise.

On Okowa’s case, Oghenesivbe noted that the former governor voluntarily made himself available to the EFCC and did not flee the country contrary to rumors in other investigations.

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Oghenesivbe, who served as Okowa’s Executive Assistant on Communications from 2017 to May 29, 2023, appealed to the people of Delta State to remain calm and continue to pray for Senator Okowa as he may eventually be exonerated following the EFCC investigation.

“News of the arrest of former Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa by the EFCC is trending based on reports in sections of the mainstream media,” he said. “There is no cause for alarm. Arrest is standard criminal procedure based on the charges presented to the commission. However, an arrest is not proof of guilt and is not a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The allegations will be tested in court as appropriate.”

Meanwhile, the national convener of the Community Police Partnership and Acting South-South Zonal Chairman of HURIDE, Comrade Anthony Asakitikpi, applauded the EFCC for arresting Okowa, insisting that “all enemies of Deltans must be brought to book”.

“I commend the EFCC for the speedy arrest of former Governor Okowa,” Asakitippi said. “Okowa plunged Delta State into a huge amount of debt while trying to prop up the Atiku-Okowa presidential ambition. Furthermore, there is no concrete evidence to show how the borrowed funds were used in Delta State. Deltans are still paying the consequences of these actions.”

Asakitikpi called on the EFCC to interrogate, arrest and prosecute Okowa, demanding that he account for all the borrowed money and return it to the state coffers. He called on the former governor to face the full force of the law.