N70bn Alleged Fraud: EFCC Chairman Vows To Revisit Matawalle’s Case

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has promised that the anti-graft agency would revisit investigation of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mattawalle over alleged N70 billion money laundering leveled against him while he was in office as governor of Zamfara State.

His assurance came on the heels of protest by a Zamfara State based pressure group,Zamfara Alternative Forum, which protested on Friday to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, demanding that the agency revisits the fraud allegation case against the former governor.

Speaking to reporters through the EFCC’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, in response to the group’s protest and demand,Ola Olukoyede, vowed that his administration would not condone corruption in any way.

“I want to thank the Zamfara Alternative Forum for doing this peacefully, we like this kind of peaceful protest and initiative by young Nigerians. I want to assure you that as the commission is concerned, nobody is above the law.

“What the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede has done since he assumed office is that he has reviewed all high-profile cases he inherited.

“And the EFCC Chairman has asked me to assure you that this case, like others, would not be an exception. The case will be reviewed, and the Chairman is assuring you that something will be done under the law, and no one is above the law and no case shall be swept under the carpet.

“Be rest assured that this case will be revisited because EFCC believes that no case should be swept under the law. If you have done something wrong and our investigation is able to establish that you have a case, we will proceed with the matter.”

Earlier,the Zamfara Alternative Forum urged the EFCC to revisit the probe of Matawalle over alleged ₦70bn money laundering during his tenure.

The group’s spokesperson, Mahmud Abubakar said:”The Zamfara Alternative Forum urges the EFCC to resume its investigation of former governor Bello Matawalle over the ₦70bn fraud uncovered by the commission during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State. This will serve as a deterrent to others considering engaging in corrupt practices in public office, especially in addition to what happened to the humanitarian minister.

“The mismanagement of public funds has far-reaching effects on the people and the state. It leads to a lack of development, loss of revenue, and a decrease in the quality of life for the people,”he said.

The minister is being investigated by the EFCC over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.