Olukoyede’s announced the agency’s determination to revisit the alleged fraud case came as a pressure group, the Zamfara Alternative Forum, protested on Friday to the anti-graft commission’s headquarters in Abuja, demanding a revisit of the fraud allegation against the minister.
Ola Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has vowed that the commission would revisit the case of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle’s alleged N70 billion money laundering while he was in office as Zamfara State Governor.
Olukoyede’s announced the agency’s determination to revisit the alleged fraud case came as a pressure group, the Zamfara Alternative Forum, protested on Friday to the anti-graft commission’s headquarters in Abuja, demanding a revisit of the fraud allegation against the minister.
The EFCC’s acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, who spoke with newsmen as a reaction to the group’s protest and demand, said that Olukoyede had vowed that his administration would not condone corruption in any way, hence, he would revisit Matawale’s case.
Uwujaren said, “I want to thank the Zamfara Alternative Forum for doing this peacefully, we like this kind of peaceful protest and initiative by young Nigerians. I want to assure you that as the commission is concerned, nobody is above the law.
“What the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede has done since he assumed office is that he has reviewed all high-profile cases he inherited.
“And the EFCC Chairman has asked me to assure you that this case, like others, would not be an exception. The case will be reviewed, and the Chairman is assuring you that something will be done under the law, and no one is above the law and no case shall be swept under the carpet.
“Be rest assured that this case will be revisited because EFCC believes that no case should be swept under the law. If you have done something wrong and our investigation is able to establish that you have a case, we will proceed with the matter.”
Recall that the EFCC started an investigation on the now Defence Minister’s alleged corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion under the leadership of the former Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Also speaking during the protest, the spokesperson of the protesting group, Mahmud Abubakar said, “The Zamfara Alternative Forum urges the EFCC to resume its investigation of former governor Bello Matawalle over the ₦70bn fraud uncovered by the commission during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State.
“This will serve as a deterrent to others considering engaging in corrupt practices in public office, especially in addition to what happened to the humanitarian minister.
“The mismanagement of public funds has far-reaching effects on the people and the state. It leads to a lack of development, loss of revenue, and a decrease in the quality of life for the people.”