Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has been accused of embezzling over ₦70 billion of state funds during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State in the northwest of Nigeria between 2015-2023.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State made the allegation during a TVC interview Wednesday evening. Lawal expressed frustration that despite presenting substantial evidence to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, no serious efforts have been made to recover the alleged stolen funds.
He said the evidence of the stolen ₦70 billion already with EFCC “is child’s play” compared to more emerging revelations of utter pillage of the state under the former governor. Lawal said that Mr. Matawalle was “unfair” to the people of Zamfara and the state needed at least “some of this money back into Zamfara so that we can work for the people”.
Alleged Ties To Bandits
Lawal also alleged Matawalle’s involvement in banditry, claiming that the former governor harbored bandits in Zamfara State government house. He called on Matawalle to resign from his ministerial position and face the accusations to clear his name. “For the sake of his 41 children, Matawalle should uphold a better legacy by addressing the allegations head-on,” Lawal said.
Exclusive interview with Gov. @daudalawal_
— Kabir Dankasa 𝕏 (@Kdankasa) September 18, 2024
if there is a Governor who stayed in his state, Dauda lawal is one of those Governors.
I only come to Abuja when there is a need for me to come here.
Zamfara is a state facing challenges, Healthcare services, Infrastructure, Education pic.twitter.com/tWktrBsYgs
The Zamfara governor said he was in disbelief that national security agencies cleared Matawalle for appointment as Minister, despite the accusations. He noted that Matawalle’s continued role as Minister of Defence was an affront to the people of Zamfara, given the gravity of the charges.
Zamfara state has been one of the epicenters of banditry in Nigeria in the last decade.
As of now, the EFCC has not taken any publicly visible action on the case, reinforcing perceptions about selective justice in Nigeria. Matawalle is a staunch ally of President Bola Tinubu, both of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Some observers argue that Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts may be uneven, potentially serving as a tool for political influence rather than a genuine effort to eradicate the scourge of Nigeria’s development.
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