By Abiola Olawale
Dozens of protesters said to be under the auspices of the APC Loyalists Forum have stormed the entrance of the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to demand the probe of the former governor of the Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle.
The protesters who claimed they were indigenes of Zamfara state said their decision to storm the headquarters of EFCC was to make their demands known to the anti-graft agency. According to the protesters, the EFCC must investigate all petitions against the former governor, including the alleged contract diversion up to the tune of N70 billion during his tenure as governor of the state.
In a protest letter it submitted to the EFCC, the group said: “We the Voice of the Voiceless call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate the former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle for the alleged misappropriation of public funds.
“This call comes amid growing concerns about corruption in Nigeria and the need for accountability in public offices.
“During his tenure, there were allegations of mismanagement of public funds and resources.”
The EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, who received the protest letter on behalf of the chairman, assured the protesters that the commission is determined to pursue every corruption case to a logical conclusion.
It would be recalled that following his unsuccessful bid for re-election in the 2023 gubernatorial election, Mr. Matawalle was appointed as the Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu.
The New Diplomat reports also that the EFCC had in May 2023, launched an investigation of Matawalle over alleged N70bn fraud.
The Commission, in a statement then said Matawalle was being investigated over allegations of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70 billion.
The statement released by the EFCC then reads: “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.
“The Commission’s investigations so far reveal that more than 100 companies have received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state.”
The EFCC said some of the contractors had been invited and quizzed, adding that they made “startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States Dollars”.
“They confirmed that they did not render any service to Zamfara State but were allegedly directed to convert the monies paid to them into United States Dollars and return to the State governor through some of his commissioners, notably the Commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs.”
“As part of the extensive investigation of contracts awarded by the Matawalle administration, especially for phantom projects in the local government areas, the Commission has recovered a sum of N 300 Million from a company, Fezel Nigeria Limited. The funds were traced to the Zamfara Investment Company.
“In Nigeria, state governors and their deputies enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, a reason the EFCC has yet to arrest Governor Matawalle.”
