CSO to EFCC: Probe Matawalle like other ex-governors — there’re allegations against him

The Zamfara Anti-Corruption and Security Watchdog, a civil society organisation (CSO), has called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to immediately investigate the alleged mismanagement of funds during the tenure of Bello Matawalle, former governor of the state.

In recent months, there have been protests urging the EFCC to probe Matawalle, who is now the minister of state for defence.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Bello Gusau, chairman of the group, said the EFCC must not be seen as engaging in selective investigation of alleged corrupt practices against politicians.

Gusau asked the anti-graft agency to probe Matawalle like other former governors — Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Willie Obiano (Anambra), and Theodore Orji (Abia).

“If EFCC could investigate and prosecute these public officers, among others, there is no reason why the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, should not be investigated for alleged corrupt practices during his tenure as governor,” Gusau said.

“It is important that Matawalle clears his name over these allegations that have lingered since 2023, when he left office as governor of Zamfara state.”

He said the investigation is in the interest of “justice, probity, accountability and good governance”.

Gusau said the EFCC is yet to act on the report submitted by the Zamfara state transition committee set up by Dauda Lawal, governor of the state, which revealed the alleged misappropriation of funds during Matawalle’s tenure.

He added that a forensic investigation by the EFCC will “clear the air” on the allegations.

“Several anti-corruption groups have equally forwarded their petitions to the EFCC with details of funds allocated to the state and demanded a thorough investigation into how they were utilised or misused with a view to holding public office holders accountable, which the commission champions,” he said.

Matawalle was governor of Zamfara from 2019 to 2023.

He lost his re-election bid in the 2023 elections and was subsequently appointed minister of state for defence by President Bola Tinubu.

Since leaving office as governor, there have been petitions against Matawalle over alleged corruption.

In May 2023, the EFCC said it was probing Matawalle for allegedly diverting N70 billion meant for contracts in the state.

Osita Nwajah, EFCC’s director of public affairs at the time, said the amount was allegedly diverted by Matawalle’s “cronies” when he was the governor.

“But the real issue with Matawalle is that he is being investigated by the EFCC over allegations of monumental corruption, the award of phantom contracts and the diversion of over N70 billion,” the EFCC had said.

Despite the allegations, Matawalle has not been arraigned in court.