“We are appalled by the attempt to link Governor Okowa with the story by online media. For the record, the state government has severally in the past given account of how the bailout fund the state got from the Federal Government was used. We will not repeat ourselves here. Governor Okowa is a responsible family man and a well respected public figure,” the State Commissioner of Information stressed.

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has denied trending allegations in the media of alleged $10m money laundering involving him and a US-based Ika-born actress, Georgina Onuoha.

In a statement by the Delta State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Pat Ukah, the governor described his involvement as “ridiculously tasteless and mischievous”, adding, “This can only be part of the unrelenting campaign of calumny and the ceaseless peddling of pernicious propaganda against the person and office of the Delta State Governor.”

Quoting copiously a national newspaper headline, “Girlfriend defrauds Gov of $10m”, Mr. Ukah wondered why the newspaper report and subsequent media reports strove to link Delta State Governor, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa with the said story.

“It is instructive to state that The Nation, quoting sources from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reported that a serving governor from the South – South region, allegedly diverted $10M from the bail out fund for his state, without mentioning anybody’s name.

“We are appalled by the attempt to link Governor Okowa with the story by online media. For the record, the state government has severally in the past given account of how the bailout fund the state got from the Federal Government was used. We will not repeat ourselves here. Governor Okowa is a responsible family man and a well respected public figure,” the State Commissioner of Information stressed.

Ukah maintained that the governor will not be distracted by any form of organised and orchestrated blackmail from any quarters, but will continue to deliver on his promises of good governance and prosperity for all Deltans.

However, he sounded a note of warning. “If those who are bent on carrying out their devious and dubious campaign of calumny against the governor refuse to stop this infamous trade of theirs, we reserve the right to take any action deemed appropriate to seek redress.”

Dailytrustng