
Mrs. Joy Enwa, the Accountant General of Delta State, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of a probe into an alleged N1.3 trillion misappropriation under the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The investigation centers on the alleged diversion of funds from the 13% derivation allocated to oil-producing states, with a specific focus on financial mismanagement during Okowa’s tenure.
EFCC sources indicate that Enwa’s arrest follows a larger investigation into corrupt practices linked to former Governor Okowa. The former Governor, who was also the vice-presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was detained by the EFCC in November. He is accused of embezzling public funds and acquiring assets worth over N1.3 trillion, including shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Company and other investments in the oil sector.
According to SaharaReporters, Mrs. Enwa was arrested last week for questioning regarding the alleged fraud, and she is currently under investigation. During the same operation, other officials, including a former Director of Finance and Administration, Mr. Ekeruche, and the Director of Administration at the Delta State Government House, were detained for their involvement in the case. They have provided statements to EFCC investigators.
This is not the first time Mrs. Enwa has been involved in a financial controversy. In 2015, she was implicated in a N369 million fraud scandal involving former Deputy Accountant General Cyril Agbele, a First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch manager, and other state officials. While Agbele denied the allegations, the case raised concerns over financial management at the time of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration.
Enwa, who succeeded Agbele as Accountant General in 2020 under Governor Okowa’s administration, now faces fresh scrutiny regarding financial mismanagement during her tenure.
When approached for a statement, Mrs. Enwa declined to comment, advising the press to direct inquiries to the EFCC. The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed her arrest but added that she was released along with other detained officials. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to gather evidence regarding the alleged financial crimes.
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