- EFCC breaks silenceÂ
Former Zamfara governor, Bello Matawalle, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of corruption during his time in office. According to the Tribune Newspaper, a reliable security source has reported that the EFCC has requested the Department of State Services (DSS) to apprehend Matawalle wherever he is found in the country.
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Prior to the end of his tenure, Matawalle had accused the suspended chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, of soliciting a $2 million bribe from him. The anti-graft agency, however, denied these allegations. In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in the Hausa Service, Matawalle criticized the EFCC for targeting governors while neglecting federal officials who have significant budgetary allocations.
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In response to Matawalle’s accusations, the EFCC stated that they were investigating him for allegedly embezzling state funds amounting to N70 billion through the award of unexecuted contracts to his associates, for which he received money.
An investigation conducted by Ejes Gist News Nigeria has revealed that the former governor may have gone into hiding out of fear of being apprehended by the anti-graft agency. When questioned about Matawalle’s whereabouts, a security official responded rhetorically, indicating the uncertainty surrounding his current location.
We have not declared ex-Governor Matawalle wanted – EFCC.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted the report published in Tribune claiming that the former Governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, was declared wanted. In a statement released on Sunday, the EFCC stated that the report is incorrect.
According to the statement, the EFCC clarified that it has not declared Matawalle wanted or sought the assistance of any agency, including the Department of State Services (DSS), to apprehend him. The Commission emphasized that it follows a standard procedure for declaring individuals wanted and communicates such declarations directly to the public, rather than relying on anonymous “security sources.”
The EFCC’s response indicates that the information published in Tribune regarding the declaration of Matawalle as a wanted person is unfounded and lacks factual basis.
