Northern Group Demands EFCC Reopen Probe Into Ex-Governor Matawalle Over Alleged N423bn Misappropriation
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
A prominent Northern advocacy group, the Concerned Northern Forum for Accountability and Good Governance, has renewed its call for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reopen its investigation into former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, over alleged embezzlement of over N423 billion during his tenure.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, the forum’s convener, Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad Sani, expressed deep concern over what he described as the EFCC’s failure to conclude investigations into the serious allegations against Matawalle before the 2023 general elections.
Sani emphasized that the anti-graft agency must demonstrate consistency in its actions, citing the recent probe of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello as a precedent. “If Yahaya Bello can be investigated, then Bello Matawalle should not be treated differently,” he said.
The group alleged that during Matawalle’s tenure from 2019 to 2023, Zamfara State received over N290 billion in federal allocations, in addition to N133 billion from the State Joint Allocation Account, yet the funds were not adequately accounted for.
According to the forum, the EFCC had previously confirmed, through its then-spokesperson Osita Nwajah on May 18, 2023, that more than 100 companies had received payments from the state without providing any corresponding services.
Sani urged the EFCC to reopen the case and ensure that the current Minister of State for Defence is held accountable, asserting that such action is critical for the commission’s credibility and for restoring public trust in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.