The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Mrs. Joy Enwa, the Accountant General of Delta State, in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged mismanagement of N1.3 trillion during the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Sources within the EFCC revealed that the funds under scrutiny include significant portions of the 13 percent derivation allocation intended for oil-producing states. The anti-graft agency has also interrogated several other individuals, including a former Director of Finance and Administration and a senior official from the Government House, as part of the probe.
In November, former Governor Okowa was questioned at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt office over allegations of misappropriating state funds for personal enrichment. Investigators have reportedly linked some of the diverted funds to assets such as shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Company and other oil sector investments.
Confirming Mrs. Enwa’s arrest, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale stated, “Mrs. Enwa was detained for questioning over the ongoing investigation into the mismanagement of state funds under the former administration. Some other government officials have also been interrogated.”
Mrs. Enwa, who previously served as Deputy Accountant General during Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s tenure, was appointed as Accountant General by Okowa in 2020. This is not her first controversy; in 2015, she was implicated in a N369 million fraud case involving other state officials and bank representatives.
When approached for comments, Mrs. Enwa declined to provide details, saying, “I am not the right source to confirm this story. Please contact the EFCC for clarification.”
The investigation underscores the EFCC’s commitment to addressing allegations of financial mismanagement and ensuring accountability in public office. The case continues to unfold as the agency seeks to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud.
