The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle’s claims that the agency was witch-hunting him for refusing to pay a $2 million bribe to its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.
Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC’s spokesman, issued a statement on Friday night urging the outgoing Zamfara governor to submit evidence to back up his claim.
In the statement, Uwujaren branded the governor as a suspect under investigation who would not be treated with dignity.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a trending interview granted to the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, by Bello Muhammed Matawalle, governor of Zamfara State, in which he allegedly made wild bribery allegations against the Executive Chairman of the Zamfara State Government,” he said.Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa is the Chairman of the Commission.
“Matawalle’s use of mudslinging is akin to a drowning man clutching at straws.” Despite the annoyance of his bogus allegations, the Commission will not get into a mud war with a suspect under investigation for corruption and immoral pillage of his state’s resources.
“If Matawalle is to be taken seriously, he should go beyond threatening by spilling the beans and provide concrete evidence to back up his claims.”
He also warned the public about some of the accused corrupt politically exposed individuals’ plans to depart the country before May 29.
“The commission is working closely with its international partners to thwart these escape plans and bring those responsible to justice,” he added.
