Anti-Graft War: We’ll Continue with N70bn Corruption Case against Matawalle, Says EFCC

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it would continue with the alleged N70 billion corruption case against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle while he was governor of Zamfara State.

EFCC Acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajuren, stated this when some protesters under the aegis of APC Akida Forum stormed the commission’s headquarters yesterday in Abuja, and demanded the reopening of the pending case.
Uwajuren said: “I want to commend members of the APC Akida Forum for this peaceful protest. It is within your rights to protest. The constitution guarantees the right of free expression and you have done that today.

“I want to assure you all that EFCC does not close cases. Once we open investigation into a case we will do not close such matter. So I assure you that this petition will be looked into. Thank you very much,” he said.
Presenting a copy of their petition to EFCC, Chairman of the group, Musa Mahmud requested the commission to reopen the investigation into the corruption allegations against Matawalle.

Mahmud said this call.was amid growing concerns about corruption in Nigeria and the bold steps taken by the APC administration in recent decisions regarding government officials suspected of embezzlement.
“Recall that on the 18th May 2023, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), through its then Director, Media and Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah Nwajah, said that the EFCC is investigating Matawalle over allegations of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.
“According to the EFCC, the money, which was sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank, purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.

“The commission’s investigations revealed that over 100 companies had received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state. Some of the contractors who had been invited and quizzed by the commission made startling revelations on how the governor allegedly compelled them to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States Dollars (hard currency).

“The companies confirmed that they did not render any service to Zamfara State. Still, they were allegedly directed to convert the monies paid to them into United States Dollars (hard currency) and return them to the state governor through some of his commissioners, notably those in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs,” he stated.

Mahmud further urged the EFCC to investigate the $2.1 billion arms deal, which allegedly included Matawalle, other Nigerians and companies that benefited from the former National Security Adviser’s NSA’s scandal.

“The APC AKIDA Forum is appealing to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to continue investigating Bello Mohammed Matawalle’s alleged mismanagement of public funds during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State and his involvement in the famous arms deal scandal.

“As party loyalists, we want the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate the matter and bring justice to those responsible for the mismanagement of public funds. This will serve as a deterrent to others considering engaging in corrupt practices in public office, especially considering what happened to the humanitarian minister.

“The APC Akida Forum, as a political pressure group, commends the Federal Government for making bold decisions against corruption,” he added.