The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has refuted claims that it has declared the immediate past governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle, wanted for alleged N70b Fraud.
The commission said in a statement signed by the Head of Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on Sunday, in Abuja, that the agency has not declared the governor wanted nor requested the assistance of the Department of State Service, DSS, to arrest him over fraud.
It would be recalled that Matawalle’s vehicles were released following the verdict of the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau which nullified the standing order of his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal.
Justice Aminu Bappah-Aliyu had on June 15, ordered all security agencies responsible for removing the vehicles from Matawalle’s houses in Gusau and Maradun to return them within 48 hours.
The Statemant reads, “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report, entitled, Alleged N70b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex-Zamfara Gov, Matawalle Wanted, which appeared in the Sunday Tribune of June 18, 2023 and purports that the Commission had declared a former Zamafara State governor, Bello Matawalle wanted and requested the Department of State Service, DSS, to arrest him, “anywhere he is seen”.
“Without prejudice to the case involving the former governor, the report is incorrect as the Commission has yet to declare Matawalle wanted or solicit the assistance of any Agency, including the DSS, to effect his arrest.
“The Commission has standard procedure for declaring persons wanted and communicating same to the public, not through faceless “security sources”.
