Delta Line privatization In Okowa's first term, his administration announced the partial
privatization of the state-owned Delta Line bus company. At the end of the privatization process, 60% of Delta Line was bought by
God is Good Transport Development Company (GTDC) for ₦160 million while 40% remained under the ownership of the Delta State government. Immediately, calls of fraud were raised as the owner of GTDC,
Chidi Ajaere, had supported Okowa's 2015 campaign and fellow bidder, the Delta State Council of the
Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, claimed that they had offered ₦2 billion for the same stake. The AUPCTRE and its organization, the
Nigeria Labour Congress, claimed that GTDC initially offered the concession committee only ₦80 million compared to their ₦2 billion, yet GTDC was chosen when they doubled their offer to ₦160 million paid in two parts while the AUPCTRE was never called back by the committee; AUPCTRE also claimed that GTDC never completed their second payment of ₦80 million. Okowa's commissioners attempted to defend the sale by claiming that Delta Line was in debt, however, former Delta Line Accountant-General David Akpemegin claimed that the company had nearly finished its debt payments at the time of the sale and financial records show that the Line was profitable according to AUPCTRE, who opposed the privatization. Reports also stated that Okowa appointees such as Commissioner of Finance and Chair of the Concession Committee David Edevbie actively supported GTDC throughout the process despite their low bid. Further, experts claimed that GTDC's acquisition was in part to get rid of a competitor and reports showed a drop in quality of Delta Line services after the sale. Okowa's Chief Press Secretary Olisa Ifeajika defended the administration's sale as merit-based and citing GTDC's "vast experience in transportation sector." GTDC also defended itself by saying that Ajaere had no "special relationship" with Okowa and that the company was the most qualified bidder.
2019 Auditor-General report In December 2021, a two part investigation by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting found irregular expenditures, disregard for financial regulations, and evidence of financial misappropriation in the Delta State Auditor-General's annual report for 2019. Several ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) along with the State House of Assembly were implicated for irregularities in the investigation of the report. Some notable findings include: Office of the Secretary to State Government's inability to account for ₦278.5 million in public funds, members of the Okowa administration illegally ignoring Freedom of Information requests, State Board of Internal Revenue's questionable use of ₦107.74 million in funds and the extra-budgetary expenditures of the ministries of Health and Agriculture along with inflated costs for House of Assembly members' vehicles. Officials mainly ignored requests for comment or referred the matter to Auditor-General Paul Aghanenu, who stood by the report but stated that he could not answer further questions without the approval of the Secretary to State Government.
Alleged diversion of derivation fund In November 2024, Okowa was invited by Port Harcourt office of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning over alleged mismanagement and diversion of 13% derivation meant for Delta State between 2015 and 2023, amounting to N1.3trillion. He was detained by the anti-graft agency. ==Award and honour==