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.
