Zamfara: More details of EFCC’s Bawa vs ex-Governor Matawalle feud emerge

More details have emerged shedding more light on what mat have triggered the feud between the former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, and the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa.

According to a source, the former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, actually looted the state’s scanty resources using a pharmaceutical company, Danguruf Pharmaceutical Limited, as a front.

The source revealed that the former Zamfara Governor “awarded a contract for the supply of an unspecified number of vehicles for N1 billion to Danguruf Pharmaceutical Limited in an apparent scheme that saw him looting billions from the North West state during his tenure”.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, the current Governor of Zamfara state, Dauda Lawal, vowed to recover looted funds and properties of the state government.

He had said: “We have the facts and records available that expose Matawalle’s impropriety.

“A contract was awarded by the former governor, for the purchase of vehicles to be distributed to dignitaries and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) at the cost of N1,149,800,000.

“The contract for the purchase of the vehicles was awarded to Hafkhad Properties and Facilities Management Nig. Ltd.”

Latching on to the development, security operatives had raided Matawalle’s Gusau home and seized vehicles shortly after he lost reelection during the 2023 governorship election in the state.

It could be recalled that News Band had reported that some vehicles were reported seized from the residence of Matawalle, in Gusau, the state capital.

Sources said that several Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), amongst others, were impounded during the raid.

It was also reported that, while speaking on a local radio station, the current Governor had said:

“Former governor Bello Matawalle had gone away with 17 vehicles from his office and those in the deputy governor’s office claiming that the vehicles are his personal belongings.

“In fact, not even office equipment were spared,” he had added.

Lawal, therefore, gave Matawalle an ultimatum of five days to return vehicles allegedly taken away by officials of his administration.

Shortly thereafter, EFCC operatives swooped in on his residence, carting away valuables, including, according to Matawalle himself, “even cooking pots”.

Matawalle, who on the other hand, could not take it lying down, accused the EFCC chairman Bawa, who is now suspended, of demanding $2 million bribe from him.

He made the allegation while speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, insisting that Bawa could not be trusted.

He had said: “It is not just to always blame governors. It is not only governors who have treasury, the federal government also has.

“What does the EFCC boss do to them? As he is claiming he has evidence on governors, let him show to the world evidence of those at the federal level.

“If he exits office, people will surely know he is not an honest person. I have evidence against him.

“Let him vacate office, I am telling you within 10 seconds probably more than 200 people will bring evidences of bribe he collected from them. He knows what he requested from me but I declined.

“He requested a bribe of $2 million from me and I have evidence of this. He knows the house we met, he invited me and told me the conditions.

“He told me governors were going to his office but I did not. If I don’t have evidence, I won’t say this.”

Reacting to the ‘roforofo’ fight ahead between Matawalle and Bawa, former Presidential spokesman to former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and author, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, said:

“The battle between Matawalle and Bawa is bound to be interesting, beginning from next week when the governor would have been stripped of his immunity from prosecution.

“I choose to reserve my opinion until the governor presents concrete evidence to back his weighty allegation, but Bawa must understand that you don’t fight corruption with street gossip or fishing for evidence.

“What irks Matawalle is the reported invitations to outgoing governors and their commissioners over alleged corruption and abuse of office.

“Targeting state governors while turning a blind eye to the misdeeds in Abuja, according to Matawalle, is unacceptable.

“Whatever his motivation, Matawalle has a valid point on the EFCC modus operandi.”

Presently, EFCC is yet to file any charges against Matawalle as the chairman Bawa remains in the detention of the Department of State Security (DSS), while Matawalle walks free. Read more.

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