EFCC warned against selective prosecution

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

The Zamfara Anti-Corruption and Security Watchdog has warned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) against selective probe of alleged corrupt practices against past and current public officers, in order not to undermine the fight against corruption in the country.

Its Chairman, Bello Garba Gusau, in a statement ,yesterday, said the warning became expedient following alleged graft against Minister of State for Defense Bello Matawalle, that has not been taken seriously.

Gusau told the Commission to quickly commence investigation on several petitions submitted to it since 2023 on allegations of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds against Matawalle who served as governor between 2019 to 2023.

He said: “It is in the interest of justice, probity, accountability and good governance for the commission to quickly commence investigation on several petitions submitted to it since 2023 on allegations of abuse of office and misappropriation of funds against the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle while in office from 2019 to 2023.

“We are worried that the EFCC is yet to act on the report submitted by Zamfara State Transition Committee set up by Governor Dauda Lawal and headed by the former Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar which revealed that over N250 billion of State funds were either misappropriated or misapplied by Matawalle’s government.

“A forensic investigation by EFCC will clear the air on how this huge fund was deployed or misused. The transition report also showed that several elephant projects were awarded, fully paid for but not executed including Gusau International Cargo Airport, 14 Local Government Lodges, renovation/rehabilitation of Zamfara State Government House, construction of the Deputy Governor’s office, Gusau Hotels and Motel, hospitals and road constructions across the state. Most of these projects were abandoned despite adequate funds released .

“Several anti-corruption groups have equally forwarded their petitions to the EFCC with details of funds allocated to the state and demanded thorough investigation on how they were utilised or misused with a view to holding public office holders accountable which the commission champions.

“It is reassuring that EFCC demonstrated commitment, determination and persistence in addressing allegations of corrupt practices levelled against public officers including the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betty Edu, former House of Representatives member Mohammed Gudaje Kazaure who was recently arrested by EFCC for receiving gifts from one Mr Eric, a relation of the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, in addition to ₦70 million donation from the former CBN governor .