HURIWA urges EFCC to clarify cases against Okowa, Bello
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conclude its investigations involving former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and former Kogi…
The EFCC has in recent years intensified scrutiny of former state governors over alleged diversion of public funds while in office, a pattern that has fuelled public debate about accountability for ex-officials who enjoy immunity during their tenure. Ifeanyi Okowa, who governed Delta State and was the PDP's vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, and Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, have both featured in reports of financial crimes investigations following the end of their terms, though neither has been reported to have faced a conclusive court outcome in the matters referenced here.
HURIWA, a civil society group known for commentary on governance and anti-corruption issues, is pressing the EFCC for clarity rather than announcing any new findings itself. The call highlights a recurring criticism of Nigeria's anti-graft agency: that investigations into politically exposed persons often drag on without public updates, fuelling perceptions of selective or stalled justice. The coverage by Tribune Online and Leadership both frame this as an appeal for the commission to expedite and conclude its probes, but neither report provides specifics on the alleged offences, the amounts involved, or a timeline for when the investigations began or might end.