The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied declaring a former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, wanted over an alleged N70 billion fraud.
The anti-graft agency said it did not request the assistance of the Department of State Service (DSS) to arrest the ex-governor, as reported by some media outlets.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwajaren, on Sunday, the EFCC described the report as false and misleading.
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report, entitled, Alleged N70b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex-Zamfara Gov, Matawalle Wanted, which appeared in the Sunday Tribune of June 18, 2023 and purports that the Commission had declared a former Zamafara State governor, Bello Matawalle wanted and requested the Department of State Service, DSS, to arrest him,” the statement read.
“The Commission wishes to state categorically that no such declaration was made by it and no request for arrest was made to the DSS or any other agency with respect to the former governor.”
The EFCC said it was investigating a petition against Matawalle and some others over alleged misappropriation of public funds while he was in office.
“The Commission is currently investigating a petition against Bello Matawalle and some other persons for alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to over N70 billion while he held sway as governor of Zamfara State. The investigation is still at an early stage and no charges have been filed against him or any other person(s) in connection with the matter,” it said.
The EFCC urged the public to disregard the report and advised journalists to verify their facts before publishing.
