Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared that Bello Matawalle, the outgoing Governor of Zamfara State, is currently under investigation for his alleged involvement in a staggering N70 billion fraud. In a statement released on Thursday, the anti-corruption agency disclosed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) powerbroker is being probed over allegations of monumental corruption, the awarding of phantom contracts, and the diversion of over N70 billion.

According to the EFCC statement, the funds in question were sourced as a loan from an old generation bank, ostensibly intended for executing projects across the state’s local government areas. However, it is alleged that the governor diverted the money through intermediaries and contractors who received payment for contracts that were never executed. The statement emphasized, “The Commission’s investigations so far reveal that more than 100 companies have received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state.”

In its pursuit of the truth, the EFCC has summoned and interrogated several contractors involved in the scandalous affair. Startling revelations emerged during these interviews, with the contractors claiming that they were allegedly coerced by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers through his aides, after converting the money into United States Dollars. Additionally, they admitted to providing no services to Zamfara State, stating that they were directed to convert the payments into USD and return them to the governor through certain commissioners, notably those responsible for Finance and Local Government Affairs.

The EFCC’s investigation into the Matawalle administration’s extensive awarding of contracts, particularly for phantom projects in the local government areas, has already yielded results. A sum of N300 million has been recovered from Fezel Nigeria Limited, a company whose funds were traced to the Zamafara Investment Company.

It is worth noting that Nigerian state governors and their deputies enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, which is why the EFCC has not arrested Governor Matawalle thus far. However, with his re-election bid lost in the March 2023 governorship election, Matawalle’s single term of four years will come to an end on May 29, 2023.

As the investigation unfolds, the spotlight remains on Governor Bello Matawalle, awaiting the outcome of the EFCC’s diligent efforts to uncover the truth behind the alleged N70 billion fraud.