The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), demanding an explanation over what it described as the agency’s prolonged silence on the corruption investigation involving former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
In a statement issued in early May 2026, HURIWA, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said Nigerians deserved a public update on the status of the investigation, arrest, and subsequent handling of allegations against the former governor.
The rights group expressed concern that the once high-profile case appeared to have gone cold after Okowa’s arrest in November 2024 over allegations bordering on the diversion of more than N1.3 trillion in 13 per cent derivation funds during his tenure as governor of Delta State from 2015 to 2023.
HURIWA said the silence surrounding the matter had fueled public suspicion that the case may have been quietly abandoned, warning that such a development could erode public confidence in the anti-graft war.
“The Nigerian public deserves transparency and accountability on this matter. The deafening silence from the EFCC after the initial media fanfare surrounding the arrest is troubling and unacceptable,” the group reportedly stated.
Beyond demanding clarity on the probe, HURIWA also called on the EFCC to introduce a “Certificate of Clearance” mechanism for political aspirants, which would bar individuals with pending corruption investigations or unresolved financial crime cases from contesting elective offices.
The association said the proposal had become necessary in view of what it described as renewed political activities by Okowa despite unresolved allegations hanging over him.
The case against the former governor stems from allegations that he diverted N1.3 trillion in oil derivation funds belonging to Delta State, alongside an additional N40 billion allegedly earmarked for shares in a natural gas company. He was also accused of using part of the funds to acquire choice properties in Abuja and Asaba.
The EFCC had in October 2025 maintained that its investigation into Okowa remained active, insisting that his political realignments, including his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), would not shield him from prosecution.
Okowa, however, has consistently denied wrongdoing, describing the allegations as “ludicrous” and “unsubstantiated,” while maintaining that he remains innocent of all charges.
As of May 4, 2026, the EFCC had yet to publicly respond to HURIWA’s ultimatum.
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