The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to continue the alleged N70 billion corruption case against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle while he was the Governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.

EFCC Acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajuren made the pledge while addressing protesters under the aegis of APC Akida Forum who staged a protest at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday, calling for the reopening of the pending case.

The former governor was initially under investigation by the anti-corruption agency during the tenure of Abdulrasheed Bawa over the alleged pocketing of N70 billion from the Zamfara State government coffers.

The EFCC said the governor allegedly siphoned Zamfara’s funds sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects in local governments in the state.

The anti-graft commission said the governor used proxies who posed as contractors for the projects and got paid but did not execute the projects.

Matawalle then accused the EFCC of targeting only governors while ignoring officials with budgetary allocation at the federal level.

Also, during the week, Elder stateman, Chief Edwin Clark, asked the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, to revisit high-profile corruption cases involving ex-governors and politicians.

Clark urged Olukoyede to prosecute them to a conclusion.

Uwajuren told the protesters that EFCC does not close cases once it opens an investigation, noting that the Commission continues and assured them that their demand will be looked into.

“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 EFCC does not close cases. Once we open investigation into a case we will not close such matter. So I assure you that this petition will be looked into. Thank you very much,” he said.

Presenting a copy of their petition to EFCC, Chairman of the group, Musa Mahmud requested the Commission to reopen the investigation into the corruption allegations against Matawalle, the State Minister for Defence.

Mahmud said this call comes amidst growing concerns about corruption in Nigeria and the bold steps taken by the APC administration in recent decisions regarding government officials suspected of embezzlement, including former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, among others.

He said: “Recall that on the May 18 2023, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), through its then Director, Media and Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah Nwajah, said that the EFCC is investigating Matawalle over allegations of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.

“According to the EFCC, the money, which was sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank, purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.

“The Commission’s investigations revealed that over 100 companies had received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state. Some of the contractors who had been invited and quizzed by the Commission made startling revelations on how the governor allegedly compelled them to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States Dollars (hard currency).

“The companies confirmed that they did not render any service to Zamfara State. Still, they were allegedly directed to convert the monies paid to them into United States Dollars (hard currency) and return them to the state governor through some of his commissioners, notably those in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs.”

Mahmud further urged the EFCC to investigate the $2.1 billion arms deal, which included Matawalle among the dishonorable Nigerians and companies that benefited from the former National Security Adviser’s NSA’s scandal.

“The APC AKIDA Forum is appealing to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to continue investigating Bello Mohammed Matawalle’s alleged mismanagement of public funds during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State and his involvement in the famous arms deal scandal.

“As party loyalists, we want the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate the matter and bring justice to those responsible for the mismanagement of public funds. This will serve as a deterrent to others considering engaging in corrupt practices in public office, especially considering what happened to the humanitarian minister.

“The APC Akida Forum, as a political pressure group, commends the Federal Government for making bold decisions against corruption.”