Some protesters stormed the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Wednesday morning, demanding the commission to reopen the investigation of former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle.
The Chairman of the group, Tinubu Youth and Women Network, Comrade Aliyu Yunusa, said: “We are collaborating with the government to identify and address instances of corruption within the system to ensure transparency and accountability.
“We are committed to working towards the eradication of corrupt practices by actively engaging in efforts to hold those who engage in corrupt activities accountable.
“The group, along with the EFCC, will continue investigating Bello Mohammed Matawalle’s alleged mismanagement of public funds during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State and his involvement in the famous arms deal scandal.
“As party loyalists, we want the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate the matter and bring justice to those responsible for the mismanagement of public funds.
“This will serve as a deterrent to others considering engaging in corrupt practices in public office, especially considering what happened to the humanitarian minister,” he said.
On May 18, 2023, the Director of Media and Public Affairs at EFCC, Osita Nwajah, stated that Matawalle was under investigation “over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70 billion.” Nwajah said, “The money, which was sourced as a loan from an old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the Local Government Areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.
“The commission’s investigations so far reveal that more than 100 companies have received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state. Some of the contractors who had been invited and quizzed by the commission made startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States Dollars.
“They confirmed that they did not render any service to Zamafara State but were allegedly directed to convert the monies paid to them into United States Dollars and return to the state governor through some of his commissioners, notably the commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs.”
