The Director-General of Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has urged Deltans not to be disillusioned by Monday’s arrest of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but to remain steadfast in their support and prayers for him.
Oghenesivbe, who spoke in Asaba on Tuesday, on the widely reported invitation and detention of Dr. Okowa at the country’s anti-corruption facility in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, stressed that the development was procedural and “does not in any way fracture his (Okowa’s) enviable reputation” as it was premature to label Okowa ‘guilty’ on the strength of the allegations that prompted the invitation by the EFCC.
Although, numerous political appointees in the current administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori (Okowa’s successor) also served under Okowa’s administration, Oghenesivbe was the first official of the Delta State Government to formally react to the widely reported date with the EFCC by the former governor of the state.
“Going by the legal principle of presumption of innocence, Senator Okowa may be interrogated and released without criminal prosecution or until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction”, the Delta Orientation Bureau D-G said.
According to him, it is usual for the EFCC to invite suspects based on allegations bordering on criminality, “which might be true or false, and the law recognizes the innocence of all accused persons until proven otherwise.”
He noted: “In the instant case, former Governor Okowa made himself available to EFCC, and did not abscond from Nigeria as we are made to understand in some cases under investigation.”
A legal practitioner and strategic political communication strategist, Oghenesivbe who served from 2017 to the end of Okowa’s tenure on May 29, 2023 as Executive Assistant on Communications, appealed to the people of the state “to keep their fingers crossed (and) pray for Senator Okowa” as he might be absolved of the allegations at the conclusion of EFCC’s investigation.
Oghenesivbe said in the media statement made available to THISDAY in Asaba: “The news of former governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa’s arrest by EFCC is trending on social media platforms based on reports by a section of the traditional media.
“There is no cause for alarm. It’s an established procedure in criminal matters to have a suspect arrested based on allegations in form of a petition to the commission.
“Arrest is not a proof of guilt, and not a judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. The allegations shall be tested in Court or Courts if the need arises.
“It’s important for us to keep our fingers crossed. I urge Deltans to pray for Senator Okowa at this trying time.”
Omon-Julius Onabu
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