The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has committed to investigating allegations of large-scale financial misconduct against Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defense of the Bola Tinubu-led government, following a petition submitted by the All Progressives Congress Young Leaders Alliance (APC-YLA).
Matawalle is accused of embezzling over ₦528 billion during his time as Governor of Zamfara State.
The EFCC’s assurance came in response to a protest held on Friday at its headquarters in Abuja. During the demonstration, APC-YLA Convener Mohammed Ireji and other protesters called for the revival of the corruption probe into Matawalle.
Ireji questioned the EFCC’s inaction, noting that similar petitions had been submitted previously, including by the APC Akida Forum on May 3, 2024, and a subsequent follow-up on September 30, 2024.
Receiving the petition, EFCC’s Acting Director of Security, Idowu Adedeji, confirmed, “We have received your petition and we will submit it accordingly.”
The demonstrators urged swift action, pointing to the EFCC’s record of investigating and prosecuting high-profile individuals such as former Minister Betta Edu, ex-Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, and former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku.
The allegations against Matawalle include the diversion of ₦290 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), ₦133 billion from the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), and an unexplained ₦105 billion loan obtained during his administration. Ireji stressed that these claims were not speculative, but substantiated by detailed financial records.
“We are here today to formally request that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reopen the investigation into the corruption allegations against Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the State Minister for Defense. We have gathered facts and figures regarding Bello Matawalle’s alleged embezzlement of billions of Naira,” Ireji said during the protest.
The protest underscored increasing concerns over selective justice and political interference in the EFCC’s anti-corruption initiatives. Ireji openly questioned the commission’s integrity and actions.
“If all these former governors and ministers were not above the law and the EFCC, who would shield Matawalle from investigation?” he asked.
The APC-YLA praised the EFCC’s previous accomplishments but called on the commission to show equal resolve in investigating Matawalle.
“We have lauded the performance and resilience of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leadership in its fight against corruption without bias many times,” Ireji noted.
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