The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has disclosed that the outgoing governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, is being investigated over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion.

The anti-graft agency said the revelation became necessary due to the recent outburst by Mr Mawatale on the fight against corruption under its chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

The governor had accused Mr Bawa of corrupt practices and dared the commission to go after members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

But speaking through the commission’s director, media and public affairs, Osita Nwajah, the EFCC chairman urged Nigerians not to be swayed by the ‘farcical allegations’ leveled against Mr Bawa by the governor.

The anti-graft agency also confirmed that a former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, who was recently arrested by its operatives over alleged N22bn fraud, is still in detention.

“It is intriguing that Matawalle would want to take on the role of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to investigate. Is this a case of a ‘thief’ saying he must not be touched until other ‘thieves’ are caught?

“Unfortunately, it is not within Matawalle’s remit to dictate to the EFCC whom to arrest, when, and where. Suspects in the custody of the Commission cut across all sectors and social classes.

“The qualification to get a space in the Commission’s detention facility is to commit a crime. It does not matter whether you are a priest, Imam, governor, or minister.

“Currently, a former minister of power is in the custody of the EFCC over a N22 billion corruption allegation. That conveniently did not attract Matawalle’s attention,” Mr Nwajah said.

He disclosed that the 70 billion naira was sourced as loan from old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state but was diverted by proxies of the governor.

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

“The money which was sourced as a 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,” Mr Nwajah disclosed.