The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed the reasons behind Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle’s outburst on the anti-graft agency’s investigation of outgoing governors for alleged corruption and abuse of office perpetrated by them while in office.

Matawalle, on Wednesday, May 17, revealed that the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, had sent invitations to all outgoing governors and commissioners in a bid to commence an investigation for alleged corruption and abuse of office.

The governor further accused Bawa of being corrupt, especially in the agency’s handling of assets disposal and plea bargain processes, adding that the EFCC chairman should extend the planned probe to the officials of the Presidency and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Reacting at a press conference at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, May 18, the Director, Public Affairs of the commission, Osita Nwajah, said Matawalle’s outburst was tantamount to corruption fighting back, noting that the governor is under investigation for alleged corruption that bordered on contract fraud and diversion of funds meant for the execution of projects in the Local Government Areas of Zamfara State to the tune of N70 billion.

Nwajah said: “What is at play here is a pure case of corruption fighting back. Matawalle’s outburst is a product of paranoia- an uncomfortable exertion arising from the heat of EFCC’s lawful activities.

“The commission would like to put the nation on notice to expect more of the kind of wild allegations made by Matawalle as those at the receiving end of EFCC’s investigations, fight viciously back.”

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He stated that the attack by the governor did not come as a surprise to the EFCC, saying it has become the trend for corrupt politicians to attempt to destabilise the commission’s leadership during periods of political transition.

Nwajah stressed that the EFCC has yet to arrest Governor Matawalle due to the immunity Nigerian governors and their deputies have while in office.

Nwajah added: “These shenanigans are not strange. They appear to play out in cycles, particularly when the nation is in political transition. Virtually all the predecessors of the incumbent EFCC chairman suffered similar indignity at the hands of politically exposed persons under investigation for corruption. Who among the former chairmen of the Commission was not accused of pilfering recovered assets?

“The commission would like to put the nation on notice to expect more of the kind of wild allegations made by Matawalle as those at the receiving end of EFCC’s investigations, fight viciously back.

“But the real issue with Matawalle is that he is being investigated by the EFCC, over allegation of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70 billion.

“The money which was sourced as loan from an old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.

“The commission’s investigations so far reveal that more than 100 companies have received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state. Some of the contractors who had been invited and quizzed by the commission made startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States dollars.

“They confirmed that they did not render any service to Zamafara State but were allegedly directed to convert the monies paid to them into United States dollars and return to the State governor through some of his commissioners, notably the Commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs.

“The EFCC investigation is the source of anxiety in Government House, Gusau, with the governor in mortal dread of his fate once he steps down as governor on May 29. In Nigeria, state governors and their deputies enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, a reason the EFCC has yet to arrest Governor Matawalle,” the EFCC director revealed.

The Star