EFCC vows to probe Matawalle over alleged fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to continue the corruption case against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, during his tenure as the Governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.

The commission insisted that no government official wa above the law.

EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, made the pledge when the Chairman of APC Akida Forum (AAF), Musa Mahmud, led protesters to the Commission headquarters and demanded a probe of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle over alleged misappropriation of N290 billion accrued from Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), in Abuja on Monday.

He said: “On behalf of Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Mr Olukoyede, I want to assure all of us that the commission would do everything within its power to investigate every act of economic and financial crime. We have been doing it and we will continue to do it.

“And I want to use this forum to also express the fact that the commission recognises the right of Nigerians to peaceful protest.

“This protest is peaceful. You can be rest assured that we are going to relay this message to the executive chairman and necessary action will be taken.”

Earlier, Mahmud wondered why the EFCC was yet to act on its petition submitted on May 3, 2024, to proceed with its investigation of Matawalle.

READ ALSO: Stop attack on Matawalle, focus on governance, HURIWA urges Zamfara gov

He said: “We lodged a petition at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 3, 2024, urging the commission to proceed with its investigation of the former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

“We have lauded the performance and resilience of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leadership in its fight against corruption without bias many times.”

Meanwhile, Executive Director of Patriots for Peace and Social Development, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, had accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), of sponsoring malicious report, to tarnish the minister’s name

Shinkafi said: “It is evident that the allegations and suit were sponsored by his political opponents in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hoping he would be dropped in the proposed cabinet reshuffled by Mr. President on Independence Day.

“No doubt President Tinubu is aware of their political intrigues and will not sacrifice his outstanding minister for his opponents’ inordinate political ambition that stagnated the nation from 1999 to 2015 PDP was in power.”