By Hauwa Abdullahi Alhassan ,Kaduna
Northern-based Civic group, the Concerned Northern Forum CNF, has raised the alarm over what it describes as the deliberate delay by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, despite multiple petitions and earlier commitments by the agency.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, CNF Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad Sani, said the EFCC’s inaction was “raising serious questions” about its independence and willingness to go after powerful individuals.
According to him, the group alongside other civil society bodies had submitted petitions as far back as May and September 2024, detailing how Matawalle allegedly mismanaged over N290 billion in state funds during his tenure from 2019 to 2023.
“We have seen the EFCC take bold steps against other former governors and ministers. So we are asking: why the silence in this case? Who is shielding Matawalle from investigation?” Sani queried.
The CNF pointed to official financial data and loan records to back its claims, insisting that the former governor should be made to explain how federal allocations and borrowed funds running into hundreds of billions were utilised.
Sani recalled that the EFCC itself, in a statement issued in May 2023, had confirmed it was probing Matawalle over alleged phantom contracts and diversion of public funds. He expressed concern that more than a year later, nothing concrete had come out of that investigation.
“It’s disturbing that after all the noise made by the EFCC last year, everything has gone quiet. If there’s truly a commitment to fighting corruption, this case shouldn’t be swept under the carpet,” he added.
The forum also accused the former governor of making misleading public claims about the funds he received while in office, describing them as “blatant attempts to rewrite history.”
The group called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to wade in and ensure that institutions like the EFCC are not undermined by political interests.
“We are simply asking for transparency and accountability. No one should be above the law,” the CNF stated.
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