EFCC vows to re-examine corruption allegations against ex-governor Matawalle

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday said it would review allegations of embezzlement leveled against former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle.

The spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said this while addressing protesters who stormed the commission’s headquarters in Abuja to demand an investigation into Mr. Matawalle, the current Minister of State for Defense.

Mr. Oyewale assured the protesters that their demands would be conveyed to the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, adding that “the EFCC will do everything in its power to investigate every act of economic and financial crime.”

The protesters, under the aegis of the APC Akida Forum, had gathered at the EFCC headquarters to file a petition, urging the commission to continue its investigation into Mr. Matawalle.

Speaking on behalf of the group at the EFCC headquarters, Musa Mahmud stressed that they have confidence in the anti-graft agency, especially because of the relentlessness it has shown in its investigation into corruption allegations . corruption cases involving former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

He also recalled last week’s arrest of former Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State for alleged corruption, while questioning the anti-corruption inaction in Mr Matawalle’s case.

Mahmud said: “We are confident that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has access to all the facts regarding financial crimes in the country. Nonetheless, we believe it is necessary to determine the total amount of funds the Zamfara State Government received between 2019 and 2023 under Bello Matawalle.

“We are making these efforts because, much to our dismay, the former governor appeared on a live television show, misleading the public by stating that he did not receive anything close to N70 billion during his four-year term as governor of Zamfara State.

“We urge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate this matter in order to maintain its credibility and neutrality in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. »

No new cases

The alleged corruption case involving Mr. Matawalle, who was governor of Zamfara State between May 2019 and May 2023, is not new to the EFCC.

In May 2023, less than two weeks before the end of Mr. Matawalle’s term as governor, the EFCC announced that it was investigating him for alleged misappropriation of N70 billion from the state government treasury of Zamfara.

Osita Nwaja, the then Director of Public Affairs of the EFCC, made the announcement during a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: EFCC Arrests, Charges Ex-Governor Ishaku Over Alleged N27 Billion Fraud

He said “the real problem with Matawalle is that he is under investigation by the EFCC, over allegations of corruption, awarding of phantom contracts and embezzlement of over N70 billion.”

The revelation came less than 24 hours later Mr. Matawalle called on the then EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to resign. and allow the anti-corruption agency to shine its spotlight on officials in the Nigerian presidency and outgoing ministers.

After the public spat between him and the EFCC, and after Mr. Matawalle became a cabinet minister in the new administration of President Bola Tinubu, the matter went completely cold.

However, Mr. Bello’s successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, recently brought the matter to public attention, accusing him of sponsoring bandits terrorizing the state and engaging in a series of corruption. Mr. Matawalle denied the allegations.