The court fixed August 30, 2023, to rule on the case.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed the date to deliver judgement on a suit filed by a former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, seeking to halt the probe of his tenure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other entities.
The court fixed August 30, 2023, to rule on the case.
Matawalle had filed a lawsuit with reference: FHC/ABJ/CS/753/2023 against the State Security Service, Nigeria Police Force, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Attorney General of the Federation before the High Court.
Among other things, Matawalle, who was nominated by President Bola Tinubu as minister and was recently confirmed by the Senate after screening, asked the court to declare that the EFCC lacks authority or power to commence or conduct investigations, inquiries, and/or charges against him, his family, colleagues, and contractors about any monies belonging to the Zamfara State Government.
In addition, citing sections 4, 6, and 7 of the Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Law No. 12, 2021, he requests that the court declare that only the Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Commission has the authority and power to investigate allegations of corrupt practices or financial crimes against him or his administration as Governor of Zamfara State.
SaharaReporters in May reported that the EFCC was probing Matawalle, for alleged N70 billion fraud.
The anti-graft agency also said it had “sent invitations to all outgoing Governors and Commissioners in a bid to commence investigation into alleged corruption and abuse of office perpetrated by them while in office.”
The EFCC had through the Director of Public Affairs of the commission, Osita Nwajah, explained that the agency was not supposed to dignify Matawalle with a response after the former governor’s outbursts against it, but it did to set the record straight.
“It is intriguing that Matawalle would want to take on the role of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to investigate. Is this a case of a 'thief' saying he must not be touched until other 'thieves' are caught?” the agency had said.