APC youths picket EFCC HQ, demand Matawalle’s probe

APC youths picket EFCC HQ, demand Matawalle’s probe

 Members of the All Progressives Congress Young Leaders
Alliance (APC-YLA) on Friday picketed the headquarters of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

 

They demanded for the immediate resumption of investigations
into alleged corruption involving Bello Matawalle, minister of state for
defence.

 

The group, which describes itself as a socio-political
pressure organisation based in Kaduna, accused the EFCC of going silent on the
case despite multiple petitions and earlier commitments to investigate the
former Zamfara governor.

 

In a letter submitted during the protest, the group
questioned why the anti-graft agency has not taken action against Matawalle
despite alleged financial misconduct from 2019 to 2023.

 

“We write to formally request that the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reopen the investigation into allegations of
corruption against Bello Mohammed Matawalle, minister of state for defence,”
the group said.

 

They alleged that Matawalle misled the public when he
claimed during a recent live television appearance that his administration did
not receive anything close to N70 billion throughout its four-year duration.

 

They added that official records and financial statements
from the period directly contradict the minister’s public claim.

 

 

Speaking with reporters, Mohammed Ireyi, spokesperson of the
APC-YLA, said the EFCC’s selective silence on the case raises questions about
neutrality in the agency’s operations.

 

“If former governors and ministers like Betta Edu, Yahaya
Bello and Darius Ishaku have been investigated or arrested, why is Matawalle
being shielded?” Isah asked.

 

“Who is stopping the EFCC from doing its job?”

 

The group also referenced a May 2023 statement by the EFCC’s
then spokesperson, Osita Nwajah, who confirmed that the commission was probing
Matawalle over “monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion
of over N70 billion”.

 

 

The APC-YLA urged the commission to resume the probe to “uphold
its credibility and neutrality in the fight against corruption in Nigeria”.

 

Idowu Adedeji, acting director of security at the EFCC,
received the letter from the group and promised to forward it to his superiors.

 

In May 2024, the EFCC said it will conduct a thorough
investigation into the allegation against Matawalle.

Source: APC youths picket EFCC HQ, demand Matawalle’s probe

 - NigerianEye
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