20th October, 2025.
The Chairman
Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)
Headquarters
FCT-ABUJA
Dear Sir,
AN OPEN LETTER: A WAKE UP CALL TO EFCC ON DELTA STATE'S MISSING N1.3 TRILLION 13% OIL DERIVATION FUNDS
This open letter arises from the continued silence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the N1.3 trillion of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission's (DESOPADEC) funds that was unlawfully diverted by the former governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, during his eight year tenure (2014–2023).
It would be recalled that the Mr. Ola Olukoyede-led EFCC had through its Port Harcourt Directorate operatives arrested the former governor in November 2024 over the alleged diversion of the N1.3 trillion, being proceeds of the 13 per cent derivation fund that accrued to the State during his eight-year tenure. In addition to this, was another unaccounted N40 billion he used to acquire shares in one of the major banks in the country representing eight per cent equity to float the offshore UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.
Prior to Okowa's arrest, representatives of oil and gas producing communities in the State, precisely on Thursday, June 22, 2023, beseeched the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja in protest against the alleged misappropriation of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund by Okowa that belongs to the oil bearing communities and was meant for its rehabilitation and development. The said N1.3 trillion was from the 50% per cent legally prescribed allocation to DESOPADEC from the 13 per cent oil derivation fund, which the governor, through a holding account, utilised to deprive the oil-bearing communities.
During our protest, we submitted a copy of our petition on the issue to the EFCC, as was signed by representatives of the various ethnic nationalities among whom are: Chief Mulade Sheriff (representative of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality); Matthew Itsekure (Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality); Mr Osita Ijoma/Patience. A Ego (Ndokwa Ethnic Nationality); Mark Ikpuri (Urhobo Ethnic Nationality); and Chief John Etenero (Isoko Ethnic Nationality).
For the records, we would like to also state that Okowa's premeditated action to siphon DESOPADEC's funds began when, as governor, stampeded the State House of Assembly to change the law setting up the Commission through an executive bill which was read, deliberated on and passed in a single day, in August 2018 to deliberately include his communities as hosts in the commission.
We had appealed to the anti-graft agency to conduct a comprehensive probe of the former governor's administration, particularly the 13 per cent oil derivation funds that accrued and were disbursed to the State between 2015 and 2023 when Okowa was governor. Unfortunately, after his (Okowa's) arrest and release, nothing has been heard about the EFCC's investigation. The world is watching!
We would like to remind the anti-graft agency that Deltans and Nigerians are interested to know what the outcome of its investigations are. The comment from the accused that the petition against his alleged diversion of the N1.3 trillion is politically motivated is laughable. It is an attempt to divert attention from the main issue at stake. This money is meant to develop the oil producing communities in Delta State that continue to suffer neglect of infrastructures and compensation for the loss of fishing rights among others.
The EFCC's continued silence calls for concern, particularly from the oil bearing communities who are the victims of this cruelty by Okowa. The EFCC's silence has prompted us to raise some likely questions such as:
i.) Is it because the sitting governor, Chief (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), that is why the EFCC has compromised or halted their investigations?
ii.) Is it because there was an assignment to the former governor that if he could be able to woo the Delta State government to join the APC, then his 'sins' would be forgiven? It seems that it is a slogan that when you join the APC, your sins are forgiven!
iii) What message is the EFCC's silence or inaction on the missing funds sending to Deltans and Nigerians? Are they encouraging others to loot, so that when they finish looting, they can move to the ruling party at the federal level and go scot-free? Is it a precedent that EFCC wants to set for Nigerians for the next generation to follow?
v) Is it a confirmation and truth that EFCC is a barking dog without teeth to bit because of political interference said by former President Olusegun Obasanjo?.
Quoting Olorogun Stephen K. Dieseruvwe from Bradford City, UK, "Without gainsaying, the utilization of the 13% Derivation Fund is meant for the development of oil producing communities. Based on the DESOPADEC Law, the state withholds 50%, and the other 50% meant for DESOPADEC was not fully disbursed in the eight years of Governor Okowa. It should be made abundantly clear that the governors in receipt of the 13% Derivation Fund, by law, do not have the right or prerogative to utilize the funds as they deem fit. If they do so, it will amount to misappropriation and mismanagement of the fund specifically meant for the development of oil producing communities. Without the oil exploration and exploitation from those communities, Delta State wouldn’t be one of the beneficiaries of the 13% Derivation Fund and would only be stuck with the statutory allocation component of FAAC allocations. It is unjust and inhuman to deprive oil producing communities of their rightful entitlement."
Let me strongly appeal and charge the current EFCC leadership under Mr Olukayode to emulate the good legacies of former chairman Nuhu Ribadu who is currently enjoying Nigerians good will as National Security Adviser (NSA) under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
We are therefore calling on the EFCC to wake up to its responsibilities as an anti-graft agency. This is a wake up call to the EFCC to act.
A stitch in time, they say, saves nine!
Signed:
Chief (Comrade) Mulade B. Sheriff, PhD
(The Ibe-Sorimowei of Ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom,
Delta State).
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