The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that it is currently investigating the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, over an alleged N70bn fraud. Alongside, the EFCC also confirmed the ongoing detention of a former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, on grounds of an alleged N22bn fraud.
The Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa, disclosed this information at a press briefing on Thursday. He urged Nigerians not to be distracted by Governor Matawalle’s recent accusations and challenges directed towards the EFCC.
Earlier, the Governor had accused Bawa and dared the commission to scrutinize the cabinet members of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Bawa, speaking through the Director of Public Affairs of the commission, Osita Nwajah, explained that ordinarily, the EFCC wouldn’t have responded to Matawalle’s allegations but found it necessary to correct the narrative.
Nwajah said, “It is intriguing that Matawalle would want to take on the role of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to investigate. Is this a case of a thief saying he must not be touched until other thieves are caught… He is under investigation for N70 billion fraud.”
Nwajah emphasized that the EFCC does not discriminate in its mandate to investigate and prosecute crime, whether the person involved holds a public office or is a member of the public. He further stressed that a suspect’s socio-economic class does not exclude them from being investigated or prosecuted by the commission.
More details to follow as the investigation unfolds.
