We’ll continue with N70bn corruption case against Matawalle – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has assured that it will continue with the alleged N70 billion corruption case against the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, while he was the governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.

The EFCC Acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajuren, said this on Friday while addressing hundreds of protesters under the aegis of APC Akida Forum who staged a protest at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, calling for the reopening of the pending case.

Uwajuren told the group that EFCC does not close cases once it opens an investigation and assured them that their demand will be looked into.

“I want to commend members of the APC Akida Forum for this peaceful protest. It is within your rights to protest. The constitution guarantees the right of free expression and you have done that today.”

Presenting a copy of their petition to EFCC, chairman of the group, Mallam Musa Mahmud, asked the commission to reopen the investigation into the corruption allegations against Matawalle.

Mahmud said their call comes amidst growing concerns about corruption in Nigeria and the bold steps taken by the APC administration in recent decisions regarding government officials suspected of embezzlement, including former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, among others.

Recall that on 18th May 2023, the EFCC, through its then Director Media and Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah Nwajah, had said that the EFCC was investigating Matawalle over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70bn.