Alleged N70bn Fraud’: Real reason why Gov. Matawalle is yet to be arrested

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday said  Governor Bello Matawalle’s immunity from criminal prosecution – enjoyed by governors and their deputies while in office – is why the Commission has not arrested the Zamfara leader over a N70b fraud allegation.

It said in a statement on Thursday.

The EFCC is investigating the Zamfara governor over “allegation of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70 billion”.

The Commission in a statement on Thursday said the Governor recently attempted to cast aspersion on the integrity of the EFCC’s fight against corruption by making farcical allegations of corruption in assets disposal and plea bargain procedure, among others.

According to the Commission, 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 Matawalle through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.

The Commission said its investigations so far reveal that more than 100 companies have received payments from the funds with no evidence of service rendered to the state.

It added that 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.