Matawalle may face probe as EFCC receives corruption petition

Matawalle

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, may be probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, following the submission of a petition against the minister.

Some protesters, who gathered under the auspices of the All Progressives Congress Young Leaders Alliance, submitted the petition at the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

In a statement signed by the leader of the protesters and convener of the group, Mohammed Ireji, the APC members questioned the reason the EFCC was delaying the probe into allegations of graft against the former governor of Zamfara State.

He wondered why the EFCC had not commenced an investigation against Matawalle despite two pending petitions against the minister.

Ireji said, “We are here today to formally request that the EFCC reopen the investigation into the corruption allegations against Matawalle, the State Minister for Defence.

“Many petitions were submitted at the headquarters of the commission, notable ones submitted by the APC Akida Forum on May 3rd, 2024, and a follow-up petition on September 30, 2024, urging the commission to proceed with its investigation of the former governor of Zamfara State.

“We have lauded the performance and resilience of the EFCC leadership in its fight against corruption without bias many times. The commission has shown determination and persistence in addressing corrupt officials, particularly by promptly taking action against former minister Betta Edu and others.

“We have witnessed the commission launch an investigation into the alleged corruption of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Last year, the commissioner arrested former Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State over alleged corruption.

“If all these former governors and ministers were not above the law and the EFCC, who would shield the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, from investigation? He is not a governor now. Who is stopping EFCC from doing its work? We are confident that the EFCC has access to all the facts regarding financial crimes in the country.”