A coalition of youth under the banner of the All Progressives Congress Young Leaders Alliance (APC-YLA) staged a protest at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja on Friday, calling for the immediate investigation of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over alleged corruption during his tenure as Zamfara State governor.
The demonstrators, chanting anti-corruption slogans and wielding placards, accused the EFCC of deliberately stalling on credible petitions that detail how Matawalle purportedly misappropriated public funds between 2019 and 2023.
“We formally request that the EFCC reopen the investigation into allegations of corruption against Bello Mohammed Matawalle,” the group stated in a petition handed to EFCC officials. The letter was received by Idowu Adedeji, acting director of security at the commission.
Speaking to reporters at the protest, APC-YLA spokesperson Mohammed Ireyi questioned the commission’s integrity and accused it of engaging in selective prosecution. “Why has Matawalle been shielded when former governors and ministers like Betta Edu, Yahaya Bello, and Darius Ishaku have been investigated or arrested?” he asked.
The protesters also criticized Matawalle’s recent media appearances, accusing him of attempting to rewrite history by denying that his administration ever handled N70 billion in four years. They cited budget records and official financial reports to counter his claims.
They further referenced a May 2023 statement by then-EFCC spokesperson Osita Nwajah, which confirmed the agency was investigating Matawalle for “monumental corruption, phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70 billion.” Despite that announcement, they said no concrete steps have been made to hold the minister accountable.
“The EFCC must show Nigerians that it serves justice fairly, not just targets political opposition while protecting allies of the current government,” Ireyi added.
Although the EFCC reiterated in May 2024 its commitment to probe the allegations thoroughly, Friday’s protest underscores growing public frustration over the perceived lack of action.
Source: Sahara Reporters
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