The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has insisted that its investigation into former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, is still ongoing despite his recent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This was made known during a press briefing in Abuja held to mark the second anniversary of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in office.
Addressing reporters, the Commission’s Director of Legal and Prosecution, Sylvanus Tahir, dismissed claims that politicians who join the ruling party are automatically protected from accountability.
“Someone asked whether politicians who cross over to the ruling party are shielded. The simple answer is that it’s not true,” Tahir stated.
According to him, the EFCC is still probing allegations of financial misconduct during Okowa’s administration as governor of Delta State. He assured Nigerians that justice would be served once investigations are completed.
Okowa, who governed Delta State between 2015 and 2023, defected to the APC in April 2025 alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and several other political leaders in the state.
However, his defection raised public concerns about whether he was seeking political cover.
Tahir further explained that the agency prefers to complete investigations thoroughly before filing charges in court, especially in politically sensitive cases. He noted that rushing prosecutions in the past had led to weak outcomes and unnecessary setbacks.
The EFCC Director also addressed criticisms about delays in securing convictions against politically exposed persons, stressing that corruption cases involving former governors require time due to their complexity.
Meanwhile, there are growing concerns that some public officials under probe often switch parties to avoid prosecution; a perception the EFCC says it is working to erase.