Governor Matawalle under probe for N70 billion fraud, says crime commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that outgoing Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, is being investigated over alleged diversion of N70 billion from the state treasury.
Penpushing reports that the Director of Public Affairs of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Osita Nwajah, made this known at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
‘The real issue with Matawalle is that he is being investigated by the EFCC, over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion’, the Director of Public Affairs stated
“The money which was sourced as loan from an old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed’, he said
Penpushing further reports that Nwajah said some of the contractors who had been invited and questioned over Matawalle’s alleged sleazy transactions, made startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States dollars.
The anti-graft agency said the contractors confirmed that they did not render any service to Zamafara State but were allegedly directed to convert the monies paid to them into United States Dollar and return to the State governor through some of his commissioners, notably the Commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs’
Penpushing also reports Nwajah made reference to a popular Abuja property developer, whom he said collected N6 billion on a N10 billion contract without rendering any service to Zamfara State Government
The commission spokesperson disclosed that another contractor received over N3 billion for a contract for the supply of medical equipment but the commission traced a payment of N400 million from his account to a Bureau de Change operator.
Penpushing further reports that Nwajah said the contractor confessed the payment was to procure the dollar equivalent allegedly for the state governor, but, however, he did not disclose the name of the contractor.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) said it had recovered N300 million from a company, Fezel Nigeria Limited, explain that the funds were traced to the Zamafara Investment Company, adding that in same vein, more than 100 companies have received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state.
Penpushing also reports that the commission described recent outburst of Matawalle as the case of a “thief” saying he must not be touched until other ‘’thieves’’ are caught, adding that contract was awarded by his regime for phantom projects in the local government areas.”
The disclosure of the commission comes less than 24 hours after Matawalle asked its boss, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to step down and allow the anti-graft agency to beam its searchlight on Nigeria’s Presidency officials and outgoing ministers.
“I demand that the EFCC chair extend similar invitations to officers of the Presidency and members of the Federal Executive Council, which is the highest tier of government in the country’, Matawalle had said.
Penpushing further reports that Matawalle who lost his re-election bid in March, will be leaving office when his tenure ends on 29 May, and thereafter will lose constitutional immunity that has shields him from prosecution as soon as he leaves office.
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