The All Progressives Congress Young Leaders Alliance (APC-YLA), a socio-political pressure group, on Friday, stormed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja, where they demanded the reopening of the investigation into the corruption allegations against the minister of state for Defense, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
Speaking while presenting a copy of a protest letter to the director of security in EFCC, Idowu Adedeji, the chairman/convener of APC-YLA, Muhammad Isah, urged the commission to investigate the allegations in order to uphold its credibility and neutrality in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Isah alleged that Matawalle embezzled billions of Naira and must account for the over N290 billion from the FAAC and N133 billion from the JAAC he received as governor of Zamfara State between 2019 and 2023.
He insisted that the minister in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet is expected to explain the N105 billion loan he took during his tenure as the governor of Zamfara state, saying these were not mere allegations or speculations.
“We are here today to formally request that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reopen the investigation into the corruption allegations against Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the State Minister for Defense.
“Many petitions were submitted at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), notable ones submitted by the APC Akida Forum on May 3rd, 2024, and a follow-up petition on September 30th, 2024, urging the commission to proceed with its investigation of the former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
“We have gathered facts and figures regarding Bello Matawalle’s alleged embezzlement of billions of Naira. He reportedly needs to account for over N290 billion from the FAAC and N133 billion from the JAAC he received from 2019 to 2023. He is also expected to explain the N105 billion loan he took during his tenure as the governor of Zamfara state. These are not mere allegations or speculations.
“After our last visit to this commission’s headquarters, we thought the investigation would be reopen, but nothing has happened. We are confident that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has access to all the facts regarding financial crimes in the country. Nevertheless, we feel it is necessary to determine the total funds that the Zamfara State Government received between 2019 and 2023 under Bello Matawalle.
“We are making these efforts because, to our dismay, the former governor appeared on a live TV program, misleading the public that he did not receive anything close to N70 Billion Naira during his four-year tenure as governor of Zamfara State. The facts below contradict Bello Matawalle’s statements, and the EFCC should investigate him to account for the funds.
“Recall that on the 18th May 2023, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), through its then Director, Media and Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah 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,” he added.
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