The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, has denied reports stating that they declared Bello Matawale, the immediate past governor of Zamfara state, wanted. In a statement released by the commission’s Head of Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, it was clarified that they did not request the Department of State Service (DSS) to arrest the former governor. The EFCC emphasized that they will follow standard procedures in dealing with Matawale’s case.
The EFCC expressed that the report claiming Matawale was declared wanted and that the DSS was requested to arrest him, as published in the Sunday Tribune on June 18, 2023, is incorrect. They have neither declared Matawale wanted nor sought assistance from any agency, including the DSS, for his arrest.
The commission highlighted that they have a standard procedure for declaring individuals wanted and making such announcements to the public, which is not done through anonymous “security sources.”
Previously, the EFCC announced that they were investigating Matawale over allegations of corruption, fraudulent contract awards, and the diversion of over N70 billion.
