In a renewed commitment to uphold justice and accountability, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged to revisit the case of alleged N70 billion fraud against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. The accusations date back to his tenure as the governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.
Protesters, operating under the banner of Zamfara Alternative Forum (ZAF), recently demonstrated outside the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, demanding the continuation of the investigation into the fraud allegations against Matawalle. The EFCC’s acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajuren, addressed the protesters, assuring them that the case would not be overlooked.
Uwajuren stated, “I want to assure you that as far as the commission is concerned, nobody is above the law. What the EFCC Chairman has done since he assumed office is that he has reviewed all high-profile cases he inherited. And he asked me to assure you that this case would not be an exception like others, that it will be reviewed, and he is assuring you that something will be done under the law and no one is above the law and no case shall be swept under the carpet.”
The spokesperson of ZAF, Mahmud Abubakar, presented a protest letter to the EFCC, urging the anti-graft agency to continue investigating the alleged mismanagement of public funds by Matawalle during his governorship. The group emphasized the need for accountability, citing the impact of financial mismanagement on public welfare and development.
The protest letter highlighted the EFCC’s earlier statements in May 2023, indicating an ongoing investigation into Matawalle over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts, and the diversion of over N70 billion. The funds, sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank for state projects, were allegedly diverted through proxies and contractors without evidence of service rendered to the state.
The companies involved confirmed that they did not provide any services to Zamfara State but were instructed to convert the funds into United States Dollars and return them to the governor through his aides. The protesters called for a thorough review of the corruption case against Matawalle, emphasizing the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions.
