Zamfara’s Gov Matawalle Under Probe For N70bn Fraud – EFCC

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle is being investigated for alleged N70 billion fraud.

According to a statement issued on Thursday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain is being probed for corruption, phantom contract awarding, and diversion.

The panel found the funds were obtained as a loan from an old-generation bank, ostensibly for implementing projects across local government regions.

The governor allegedly diverted the monies through proxies and contractors who were paid for contracts that were never completed.

According to the EFCC, its investigations have revealed that over 100 entities received payments from the monies “with no evidence of service rendered to the state.”

According to the anti-graft organization, several of the contractors questioned revealed “startling revelations about how they were allegedly compelled by the governor.”

The contractors were instructed to “return the funds received from the state coffers to him through his aides after converting them to US dollars.”

The funds were “returned to the governor through some of his commissioners, most notably those in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs.”