The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it
will probe allegations of financial misconduct involving the Minister of State
for Defense, Bello Matawalle, after a petition submitted by the All
Progressives Congress Young Leaders Alliance, APC-YLA.
According to the allegations, Matawalle embezzled more than
N528 billion during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State.
The EFCC gave the assurance during a protest held on Friday
at the its headquarters in Abuja, where APC-YLA Convener, Mohammed Ireji, and
other protesters demanded the reopening of the corruption case against
Matawalle.
Ireji questioned the delay in probing the former governor,
citing previous petitions submitted to the EFCC, including those by the APC
Akida Forum on May 3, 2024, and a follow-up on September 30, 2024.
Acting Director of Security of the EFCC, Idowu Adedeji,
while receiving the petition, said the petition would be submitted accordingly.
The demonstrators called for immediate action, highlighting
the commission’s previous successes in investigating and prosecuting other
high-profile figures, including former Minister Betta Edu, former Governor
Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, and former Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State.
The allegations against Matawalle include the
misappropriation of N290 billion from the Federation Account Allocation
Committee, FAAC, N133 billion from the Joint Account Allocation Committee,
JAAC, and an unexplained N105 billion loan taken during his governorship.
The convener of the group stressed that these were not mere
speculations but backed by concrete facts and figures.
“We are here today to formally request that the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, reopen the investigation into the corruption
allegations against Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the State Minister for Defense.
We have gathered facts and figures regarding Bello Matawalle’s alleged
embezzlement of billions of Naira,” Ireji said during the protest.
The protest highlighted the growing concerns about selective
justice and political interference in the EFCC’s anti-corruption efforts. Ireji
challenged the commission.
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