By Milcah Tanimu

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has pledged to revisit the probe of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, concerning an alleged N70bn money laundering case during his tenure as the governor of Zamfara State. The announcement was made in Abuja on Friday through the EFCC’s acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren.

The statement followed a peaceful protest by the Zamfara Alternative Forum at the EFCC headquarters, urging the commission to resume the investigation. The group, represented by spokesperson Mahmud Abubakar, called for a thorough inquiry into the N70bn fraud uncovered by the EFCC during Matawalle’s governorship.

Uwujaren thanked the Zamfara Alternative Forum for their peaceful demonstration and assured them that the EFCC would not overlook any case, emphasizing that nobody is above the law. He stated, “If you have done something wrong and our investigation is able to establish that you have a case, we will proceed with the matter.”

The EFCC had initially announced the investigation on May 18, 2023, accusing Matawalle of monumental corruption, awarding phantom contracts, and diverting over N70bn sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank. The funds were intended for projects across Zamfara’s local government areas but were allegedly misappropriated through proxies and contractors who received payments for non-executed contracts.

The commission’s investigations revealed that more than 100 companies received payments without providing evidence of services rendered to the state. The EFCC further disclosed that contractors, after being quizzed, claimed they were compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers in U.S. dollars through his aides. The pledge by the EFCC Chairman to review the case signifies a commitment to addressing allegations of corruption and ensuring accountability in public office.