The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that it will reopen the investigation into the alleged N70 billion fraud case involving Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence and former governor of Zamfara State (2019-2023).
The decision was made in response to a protest by the Zamfara Alternative Forum (ZAF), a group of young people who gathered at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja to demand the continuation of the probe.
Wilson Uwajuren, the EFCC’s acting Director of Public Affairs, addressed the protesters and praised their peaceful demonstration.
He assured them that the EFCC is committed to upholding the law and that no one is exempt from investigation. Uwajuren also confirmed that the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has reviewed all high-profile cases, including the one involving Matawalle.
“This case will be revisited because EFCC believes that no case should be swept under the rug,” Uwajuren said. “If our investigation establishes wrongdoing, we will proceed with the matter.”
ZAF spokesperson Mahmud Abubakar has called on the anti-graft agency to continue investigating allegations of mismanagement of public funds during Matawalle’s time as governor. Abubakar praised President Bola Tinubu for taking a strong stance against corruption, citing the recent suspension of Minister Betta Edu for similar accusations.
The ZAF spokesperson urged the EFCC to reexamine the corruption case involving Bello Matawalle, who is accused of embezzling 70 billion Naira. He said, “We urge the EFCC to revisit the corruption case of Bello Matawalle, who is accused of embezzling 70 billion Naira,” the protest letter stated.
The case dates back to May 2023, when the EFCC initiated an investigation into Matawalle for alleged monumental corruption, phantom contract awards, and diversion of over N70 billion.
The Commission claims that the funds, which were intended for local government projects, were allegedly redirected through intermediaries and contractors who received payments for work that was never executed.
“The companies 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 (hard currency) and return them to the state governor through some of his commissioners, notably the commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs,” the letter added.
