The allegations made by Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was targeting him due to his refusal to offer a $2 million bribe to the agency’s Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, have been dismissed by the EFCC. In a statement issued on Friday night, Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesperson for the EFCC, called on Governor Matawalle to provide evidence to support his claims.
Uwujaren stated that Governor Matawalle, who is currently under investigation, should not expect to receive dignified attention as a suspect. He referred to the governor’s interview with the BBC’s Hausa Service, where he allegedly made bribery allegations against the EFCC Chairman, as a desperate attempt by a drowning man to divert attention. The EFCC emphasized that it would not engage in a mud fight with a corrupt individual who is being investigated for the misappropriation of state resources.
The EFCC spokesperson challenged Governor Matawalle to go beyond making baseless accusations and provide concrete evidence to substantiate his claims. Furthermore, Uwujaren revealed that the EFCC had received information about the intentions of certain politically exposed individuals involved in corruption to flee the country before May 29. He assured the public that the EFCC was collaborating closely with international partners to thwart these escape plans and bring the culprits to justice.
