The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is facing increasing demands to restart its investigation into the alleged corruption involving Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the former governor of Zamfara State and current Minister of State for Defence. This renewed push comes from the All Progressive Congress Young Leaders Alliance (APC-YLA), a pressure group based in Kaduna, which submitted a new petition to the EFCC on Friday.
Zamfara-State-Governor-Bello-Matawalle.jpg
The group protested outside the EFCC headquarters in Abuja and, in a petition signed by its chairman, Comrade Muhammad Ahmad Isah, raised concerns about the apparent stagnation of Matawalle's case despite prior investigations and existing evidence of alleged financial misconduct.
The petition was acknowledged by Idowu Adedeji, the Acting Director of Security at the EFCC, who assured the group that it would be forwarded to his superiors. Matawalle was originally under investigation by the EFCC during Abdulrasheed Bawa's tenure, accused of misappropriating N70 billion from Zamfara State's funds. In May 2024, the EFCC committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the allegations against Matawalle, who is said to have misappropriated state funds that were borrowed from an old-generation bank for purported projects in local councils.
Investigations by the EFCC uncovered that over 100 companies received payments from these funds, yet there was no evidence of services rendered to the state. Related developments include: - A managing director on trial for alleged $680,622 fraud - Court ruling set for June 26 on EFCC's cross-examination request regarding Yahaya Bello - An EFCC witness acknowledged there were no transfers to AISA's account in the Yahaya Bello case Matawalle has meanwhile claimed that the EFCC is disproportionately targeting governors while overlooking federal officials involved in budgetary allocations. The APC-YLA expressed frustration that numerous petitions urging the EFCC to resume its investigation into Matawalle have gone unanswered. The group stated: "Several petitions have been filed at the EFCC headquarters, including significant submissions by the APC Akida Forum on May 3, 2024, and a follow-up on September 30, 2024, urging the commission to continue its review of the former Zamfara State governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle." "We have consistently praised the leadership of the EFCC for its relentless fight against corruption, free from bias. The commission has demonstrated determination in tackling corrupt officials, as evidenced by its swift actions against former minister Betta Edu and others. We have also seen investigations launched into former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello's alleged corruption, and last year, the commission arrested former Taraba State governor Darius Ishaku over similar charges. "If former governors and ministers are held accountable by the law and the EFCC, why should there be any shielding for former governor Bello Matawalle? He is no longer in office. What obstructs the EFCC from pursuing its investigation?" The group voiced concerns that the EFCC's silence could compromise its credibility, particularly following Matawalle's recent public denial on television, where he insisted he did not receive anything close to N70 billion during his administration. They emphasized the need for transparency and equitable treatment in the anti-corruption effort, cautioning that ongoing silence regarding Matawalle's case could convey a misleading message to the public.
Reporting by Sodiq Omolaoye