Bawa begged me to give him $2m, Matawalle alleges
Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara state, has alleged that Abdulrasheed Bawa, chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) begged him for two million dollars.
On Wednesday, the Zamfara governor asked the EFCC chairman to ensure that the agency’s probe did not target only outgoing governors but also officials in the presidency.
Matawalle said the planned investigation by the EFCC “must be holistic and not selective”.
Reacting to Matawalle’s comments, the anti-graft agency disclosed that it was probing the governor for allegedly diverting N70 billion meant for contracts in the state.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, the governor said he was not trying to resist being probed by calling for the investigation of all government officials.
Matawalle alleged that he is being investigated because he “didn’t offer the EFCC chairperson the money he requested from him”.
“Like I said, everyone should be investigated. It shouldn’t only be the governors and the governors are not the only ones who have treasuries, the federal government too has it,” he said.
“I also asked the EFCC chairman to write a letter asking for an investigation to be conducted on him because there are several allegations against him and there is enough evidence which will be brought out when he leaves office to show to the world that he is corrupt.
“If he leaves office, I assure you that within 10 seconds you will see over 200 people who he (Bawa) collected money from.
“I am not resisting being probed. I’m still the governor and have immunity, no one has invited me.
“The EFCC said they were investigating me since? It was when I spoke that they made allegations against me.
“He (Bawa) knows what he begged me to give him which I didn’t.
“The allegations against me are lies. He begged me to give him two million dollars. There is a house where I met him and he knows it, where he told me that he wants to see me.
“When we met, he told me that most governors have visited him in his office – but I haven’t. He sent his boy to come and persuade me to go and pay him a visit. I have my witnesses, I wouldn’t say this if I don’t.”
