A United States lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels, has accused Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of attempting to bribe a US official.
The lawmaker alleges that Matawalle sought to suppress an investigation linking him to alleged terrorist connections.
This development adds a new layer of international suspicion to the Minister, who previously served as the Governor of Zamfara State.
Zamfara has long been a flashpoint for banditry and security challenges in Northwest Nigeria.
Kimberly Daniels has frequently called for the removal of the Minister from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
She claims that the Minister’s presence in the administration undermines security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
However, a US-based Nigerian group has pushed back against the allegations.
The group argues that the lawmaker’s comments lack proper context and are part of a coordinated smear campaign.
Terrorism Allegations and Political Backstory
Before his appointment as Minister, Matawalle faced several allegations regarding his handling of security during his tenure as Governor.
Critics have often pointed to his “amnesty program” for bandits as a point of contention.
While the Minister maintains these were efforts to foster peace, others have interpreted the policy differently.
The current accusation suggests that Matawalle attempted to influence a US-based report to hide these alleged ties.
Under Nigerian law, the Defence Minister oversees the nation’s military strategy and international security partnerships.
The United States provides technical support and equipment to Nigeria to fight insurgencies.
If true, these allegations could impact future security grants and training programs provided by Washington.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official response to the specific bribery claims made by Daniels.
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