The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to review minister of state for defence Bello Matawalle’s N70 billion fraud case.
Olawale Olukoyede, the EFCC chairman, disclosed this through the EFCC’s acting director of public affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, on Friday.
Addressing a group of protesters called Zamfara Alternative Forum who stormed the EFCC headquarters at Jabi, Abuja, Mr Uwujaren said, “What the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has done since assuming office is that he has reviewed all the high-profile cases he inherited.
Mr Uwujaren added, “the EFCC Chairman has asked me to assure you that this case, like others, would not be an exception. The case will be reviewed, and the Chairman assures you that something will be done under the law, and no one is above the law and no case shall be swept under the carpet.
Speaking for the protesting group, Mahmud Abubakar said, “the Zamfara Alternative Forum urges the EFCC to resume its investigation of former Governor Bello Matawalle over the N70bn fraud uncovered by the commission during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State.
“This will serve as a deterrent to others considering engaging in corrupt practices in public office, especially in addition to what happened to the humanitarian minister.”
Mr Matawalle served as Zamfara governor between 2019-2023, when he lost his re-election bid to Dauda Lawal. He was subsequently appointed as minister of state for defence by President Bola Tinubu.
In May 2023, Osita Nwajah, EFCC’s director of public affairs, said, “the real issue with Matawalle is that he is being investigated by the EFCC over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.”