The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Friday that an investigation is still ongoing into the fraud allegations against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, during his tenure as the Governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.
This was said by the EFCC’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajuren, while addressing protesters who stormed the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
During their protest, the protesters, under the aegis of the APC Akida Forum, demanded that the Commission reopen the former governor’s pending case.
Responding to them, Uwajuren explained to the protesters that the case was never closed because once the EFCC opened an investigation, it would not be closed.
He further assured them that their demand would be looked into while commending them for boldly demanding that the right thing be done.
“I want to commend members of the APC Akida Forum for this peaceful protest. It is within your rights to protest. The Constitution guarantees the right of free expression and you have done that today. I want to assure you all that the EFCC does not close cases. Once we open an investigation into a case, we do not close such a matter. So I assure you that this petition will be looked into. Thank you very much,” he said.
News About Nigeria reported that the protesters were led to the EFCC headquarters by the chairman of the group, Musa Mahmud.
While presenting their petition to the EFCC, the group demanded that the anti-graft agency reopen the investigation into the corruption allegations against Matawalle.
According to them, this follows the bold step taken by the Commission against the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, among others.
