With mounting pressure from Zamfara State stakeholders reaching feverish pitch, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has promised to revisit a case of N70 billion alleged fraud against former Governor of the State and current Minister of Defense (State), Muhammad Bello Matawalle.
Addressing some protesters under the auspices of Zamfara Alternative Forum (ZAF), who stormed its headquarters in Abuja to demand revival of the case, the anti-graft agency assured that justice would be served.
The Commission, which expressed its resolve to recommence the alleged fraud case, through its Acting Director, Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, promised that there are no sacred cows as all the high-profile cases left behind by former EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, are being reviewed for necessary action.
Uwajaren, who told the protesters that the case against Matawalle would not be swept under the carpet, further said; “I want to assure you that as far as the commission is concerned, nobody is above the law.
“What this Chairman has done since he assumed office is that he has reviewed all high profile cases that he inherited, and he has asked me to assure you that this case will not be an exception.
“Like others, it will be reviewed and he is assuring you that something will be done under the law and no one is above the law and no case will be swept under the carpet. Be rest assured that this case will be revisited because EFCC believes that nobody should be above the law.
“If you have done something wrong and our investigation is able to establish that you have a case, we will proceed with the matter.”
Meanwhile, the ZAF Chairman and leader of the protesting group, Malam Musa Sa’idu, said they were at Commission’s headquarters to submit a petition demanding that investigation into the alleged mismanagement of public funds by Matawalle during his tenure as Zamfara Governor between 2019 and 2023 be reopened in the overall interest of the Zamfara people.
With this latest development, corruption allegations against some cabinet members of President Bola Tinubu seem to be growing by the day.
Just recently, the President suspended the Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu and ordered the EFCC to investigate her following a nationwide outrage over N585 million allegedly paid into a private account in violation of extant laws in the civil service.
Similarly, a huge amount is reportedly traced to a company that has links with the Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who has however denied any wrongdoing and maintained innocence.
Forefront News recalls that the Commission had initially launched a probe into Matawalle’s tenure as the Zamfara governor following allegations of financial impropriety and other sundry offences.
However, the case was stalled when Matawalle approached the Court to stop the anti-graft agency from probing him.
