Anti-graft group asks CCB to probe alleged $5 billion wealth of Lawal
Former Governor of Zamfara State and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has debunked the allegation by the incumbent governor of the state, Dauda Lawal, of using 100 per cent down-payment of N1 billion to renovate Governor’s Lodges in 14 local councils.
However, Matawalle accused Lawal of trying to smear his reputation by making spurious allegations against him, instead of tackling the challenges of insecurity and economic development in the state.
In a statement by his Media Coordinator, Ibrahim Dosara, yesterday, the former governor described the situation as unfortunate that despite the number of consultant professors in Zamfara State Government, “The team could not understand the essence of governance in the protection of life and property of citizens and to initiate projects for the development of the state, but rather leading the government in desperate fault-finding, deceitful and misleading the public to be convinced at all cost in tarnishing the hard-earned reputation of the former Governor, Matawalle.”
Matawalle alleged that in an attempt to ridicule him, the incumbent governor has gone out of his way to commit perjury against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also described the action as “shameless, annoying and disappointing that a government being headed by a ‘Dr’ and ran by consultant professors, are always into committing perjury against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria just to indict and tarnish the hard-earned reputation of a man who proved his worth and integrity before the public.”
MEANWHILE, an anti-corruption group, the Advocate for Social Justice (ASJ), has urged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to beam its searchlights on the source of over $5 billion alleged wealth of the governor, Lawal.
ASJ’s Executive Director, GamjiGuana Joseph, who stated this during a media briefing in Abuja, claimed that the group was astonished to find out from the CCB that the governor is worth far more than the aforementioned amount of money.
The group said that it was left with no option but to call on the CCB to wade into the matter after several attempts to engage the state government on issues of governance relating to accountability and the spate of insecurity in the state.
It, however, gave the governor one week ultimatum to offer explanation on his wealth, else would be forced to mobilise Nigerians and people of Zamfara State to stage a protest march to the National Assembly to enable the authorities and international agencies conduct proper probe on the matter.
