The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has declared the intention to reopen the investigation into the alleged N70 billion money laundering involving the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mattawalle, during his tenure as the governor of Zamfara State.
The announcement came after a peaceful protest by the Zamfara Alternative Forum at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, urging the commission to revisit the probe.
The group emphasized the need for the EFCC to resume its investigation, citing the importance of deterring corruption in public office.
Speaking during the protest, the spokesperson for the group, Mahmud Abubakar, called for renewed scrutiny into the alleged N70 billion fraud uncovered by the EFCC during Mattawalle’s governorship.
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The group stressed that mismanagement of public funds has severe consequences, leading to a lack of development, loss of revenue, and a decrease in the quality of life for the people.
In response to the peaceful demonstration, the EFCC’s acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, assured the protesters that no one is above the law, and the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, is committed to reviewing high-profile cases, including the one involving Bello Mattawalle.
Uwujaren affirmed that the case would be revisited, emphasizing that no case should be swept under the carpet.
The EFCC had initiated an investigation into Mattawalle’s alleged monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70 billion on May 18, 2023.
The commission revealed that the money, sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank for projects across local government areas of the state, was purportedly diverted through proxies and contractors who received payment for unexecuted contracts.
The investigation also exposed companies receiving payments without evidence of services rendered to the state.
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