EFCC Set to Revive Corruption Probe Against Ex-Gov Matawalle

The EFCC is reigniting corruption allegations against ex-Governor Matawalle. Discover the details surrounding the renewed focus on these charges.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday announced plans to resume investigations into the alleged misappropriation of funds against former Zamfara State Governor and current Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale made the announcement while addressing protesters who gathered at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja to demand a thorough investigation into the financial activities of Governor Matawalle during his tenure.

The protesters, led by the APC Akida Forum, called on the EFCC to intensify efforts and investigate the alleged misappropriation of funds during Matawalle’s tenure. Oyewale assured the protesters that their demands would be conveyed to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, adding that “the EFCC will be fully committed to investigating all economic and financial crimes.”

The group, under the auspices of the APC Akida Forum, had gathered outside the EFCC headquarters to present a petition calling on the commission to continue its investigation into Matawalle.

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Musa Mahmood, who spoke on behalf of the group outside the EFCC headquarters, stressed that they had confidence in the anti-graft agency, especially given the tenacity it showed in investigating corruption allegations involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

He also recalled the arrest last week of former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku on corruption charges and questioned the inaction in anti-corruption measures in Matawalle’s case.

Mahmood said: “We are confident that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has access to all the facts on financial crimes in the country. However, we believe that the total amount of funds received by the Zamfara State government between 2019 and 2023 under Bello Matawalle should be ascertained.

“Unfortunately, we are making this effort because the former governor went on a live TV programme and misled the public by claiming that he did not receive nearly 70 billion naira during his four-year tenure as Zamfara State Governor.

“We call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate this incident to maintain its credibility and neutrality in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

The appointment of Governor Zamfara State from May 2019 to May 2023 is not new to the EFCC.

In May 2023, less than two weeks before the end of Matawalle’s term as governor, the EFCC announced he was under investigation for allegedly embezzling 70 billion naira from the Zamfara state treasury.

The then EFCC Director of Public Relations, Osita Nwaja, made the announcement at a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

“Matawalle’s real problem is that he is under investigation by the EFCC for corruption, awarding fake contracts and allegedly embezzling over 70 billion naira,” he said.

The revelation came less than 24 hours after Matawalle asked the then EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to step down and allow the anti-corruption agency to shine its searchlight on Nigerian presidential officials and outgoing cabinet members.

The matter cooled off completely after a public spat between him and the EFCC, and after Matawalle later became a cabinet member in President Bola Tinubu’s new government.

However, Bello’s successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, recently brought the matter back to public attention, accusing him of supporting banditry and a string of corruption cases threatening the state. Matawalle denies the charges.