Afrigather 
The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee has revealed that the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, is being investigated over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.
The EFCC mentioned it was making the event identified following the latest try by the outgoing governor to solid aspersion on the integrity of the company’s struggle in opposition to corruption by making what the company described as ‘farcical allegations’ of corruption in belongings disposal and plea cut price process, amongst others.
The Director, Media and Public Affairs, EFCC, Osita Nwajah, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of the company, Abdulrasheed Bawa, made this disclosure on Thursday whereas addressing journalists on the Fee’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
The anti-graft company additionally confirmed {that a} former Minister of Energy, Sale Mamman, who was not too long ago arrested by its operatives over alleged N22bn fraud, remains to be in detention.
Going philosophical, Nwajah mentioned, “It’s intriguing that Matawalle would need to tackle the function of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to analyze. Is that this a case of a ‘thief’ saying he should not be touched till different ‘thieves’ are caught?
“Sadly, it isn’t inside Matawalle’s remit to dictate to the EFCC whom to arrest, when, and the place. Suspects within the custody of the Fee reduce throughout all sectors and social class.
“The qualification to get an area within the Fee’s detention facility is to commit against the law. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re a priest, Imam, governor or minister.
“At the moment, a former minister of energy is within the custody of the EFCC over a N22 billion corruption allegation. That conveniently didn’t entice Matawalle’s consideration,” the EFCC remarked.
The anti-graft company famous additional that the outgoing governor of Zamfara State is being investigated for allegedly diverting cash sourced as a mortgage from an previous era financial institution purportedly for the execution of tasks throughout the native authorities areas of the state.
Nwajah added, “However the actual difficulty with Matawalle is that he’s being investigated by the EFCC, over allegations of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.
“The cash which was sourced as a mortgage from an previous era financial institution purportedly for the execution of tasks throughout the native authorities areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor via proxies and contractors who obtained cost for contracts that weren’t executed.
“The Fee’s investigations to this point reveal that greater than 100 corporations have obtained funds from the funds, with no proof of service rendered to the state. Among the contractors who had been invited and quizzed by the Fee made startling revelations on how they had been allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds obtained from the state coffers again to him via his aides after changing the identical to United States {Dollars}.
“They confirmed that they didn’t render any service to Zamafara State however had been allegedly directed to transform the monies paid to them into United States {Dollars} and return to the state governor via a few of his commissioners, notably the commissioners in control of Finance and Native Authorities Affairs,” Nwajah disclosed.
