Group accuses EFCC of stalling probe into President Tinubu’s Minister’s case
Group accuses EFCC of stalling probe into President Tinubu’s Minister’s caze
The Concerned Northern Forum (CNF), a northern advocacy group, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of deliberately stalling the probe into former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, despite multiple petitions and earlier public commitments by the agency.
At a press conference held in Kaduna on Monday, CNF Chairman Aliyu Muhammad Sani expressed frustration over what he called the EFCC’s “conspicuous silence” on the matter, questioning the commission’s impartiality and resolve in tackling corruption involving high-profile individuals.
“We submitted petitions in May and September 2024 detailing serious allegations of financial mismanagement against Matawalle during his time in office between 2019 and 2023,” Sani said. “Other former governors have been investigated and prosecuted. So why the selective silence in Matawalle’s case? Who is protecting him?”
The group cited official records, including federal allocation data and loan documentation, alleging that hundreds of billions of naira were either misappropriated or unaccounted for during Matawalle’s tenure. They called for immediate scrutiny of how public funds and borrowed resources were utilized under his administration.
Sani also referenced a public statement made by the EFCC on May 18, 2023, through its then Director of Media and Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah, which confirmed that Matawalle was under investigation for alleged large-scale corruption, including the award of fictitious contracts and the diversion of over N70 billion.
“More than a year later, we have seen no progress, no update, and no accountability,” Sani said, urging the EFCC to act swiftly and transparently to restore public trust in the anti-corruption process.
