From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it would continue with the alleged N70 billion corruption case against the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, while in office.
The Acting Director of Public Affairs of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwajuren, stated this when some protesters under the aegis of APC Akida Forum, a political pressure group, stormed the commission’s headquarters, yesterday in Abuja, and demanded the reopening of the pending case against Matawalle, who is the current Minister of State for Defence.
Uwajuren said: “I want to commend members of the APC Akida Forum for this peaceful protest. “I want to assure you 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 look into. Thank you very much.”
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 stated that the call came amid growing concerns about corruption in Nigeria and the bold steps being taken by the APC administration in recent decisions regarding government officials suspected of embezzlement.
“Recall that on the 18th May 2023, the EFCC through its then Director, Media and Public Affairs, Osita 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.”