Matawalle goes into hiding, EFCC seeks him to face corruption charges
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Former Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle has gone into hiding and been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to answer allegations of corruption while in office for four years, which ended on May 29.
A top security source disclosed the EFCC has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest him “anywhere he is seen.”
_______________________________________________________________
Related articles:
Under Buhari, even lawmakers are stealing billions, says ICPC
Buhari’s genius may hand N500m mansion back to Dariye
Buhari’s pardon dampens morale of EFCC, ICPC officials
__________________________________________________________________
Matawalle accuses Bawa of demanding $2m
A few days to the end of his tenure, Matawalle had accused now suspended EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa of demanding a $2 million bribe from him – with a tape to prove it – but the anti-graft agency denied the allegation, per Tribune.
Matawalle made the allegation in a BBC Hausa Service interview in which he ridiculed the EFCC for going after Governors while ignoring thieving federal officials with big budget allocations.
In reaction, the EFCC announced it is investigating Matawalle for allegedly siphoning N70 billion state funds through unexecuted contracts awarded to his cronies and for which money was received.
Mattawalle may have gone into hiding for fear of being nabbed by the graft buster.
“Have you seen him anywhere lately?” a security official asked rhetorically while responding to enquiry about Mattawalle being declared wanted.
Buhari scoffs at Matawalle’s demand for EFCC probe of his officials, Ministers
Former President Muhammadu Buhari in May laughed off the call from Matawalle for him to ask the EFCC to investigate Aso Rock officials and Ministers for greed and graft.
Matawalle argued the EFCC should not limit its corruption probe to Governors alone but should include Villa officials and Federal Executive Council (FEC) members.
However, the EFCC swooped on Matawalle himself 24 hours after he made the call, with the graft buster announcing on May 16 his investigation for alleged award of phantom contracts and diversion of more than N70 billion public funds.
Matawalle had reacted in a statement to a report quoting Bawa as saying the agency had sent invitations to all outgoing Governors and Commissioners for corruption investigation.
Matawalle said he had no problem with probing outgoing Governors but Presidency officials and Ministers officials should not be spared.
“The investigation must be holistic and not selective. It is in this respect that the recent invitations and pronouncement by the EFCC chair is imbalance, incomplete, hypocritical and unnecessarily skewed,” he insisted.
Counter-productive move
“This is counter-productive to the anti-corruption crusade itself, that is if Mallam Bawa is actually committed to one,” Matawalle added.
“I demand that the EFCC chair extend similar invitations to officers of the Presidency and members of the Federal Executive Council, which is the highest tier of government in the country.
“In furtherance of my desire to engender a broad-based investigation and an enlargement of the fight against corruption,
“I will also demand that Abdulrasheed Bawa excuse himself and surrender himself for investigation, as I and some eminent Nigerians have evidence of corrupt practices, breach of public trust and abuse of office against him and the commission led by him.
“Importantly, he needs to come clean with Nigerians on the way and manner he has prosecuted the anti-corruption fight. He needs to explain among others how seized assets by the EFCC are being sold without adherence to due process.
“He should explain, for instance, how he has assumed the role of the plaintiff, prosecutor and jury and how he has executed his brand of plea bargaining with suspected criminals and saboteurs of the Nigerian economy and agenda who instead of being put on trial, are walking freely all over Nigeria.”
Buhari dismisses probe of his officials
However, Buhari dismissed Matawalle’s suggestion that Aso Rock officials and FEC members be also investigated for stealing or other forms of corruption.
Buhari’s take was conveyed by Information Minister Lai Mohammed, a member of the FEC.
“The governor has the right to make suggestions, that is his own opinion,” Mohammed said.
 to answer allegations ....){kind=link}