EFCC Denies declaring Ex-Zamfara Gov, Matawalle wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has debunked reports that the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, was declared wanted.

The Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday, June 18, 2023, reported that the anti-graft agency declared Matawalle wanted over alleged N70 billion fraud.

Reacting to the report caption, “Alleged N70b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex-Zamfara Gov, Matawalle Wanted”, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, described the story as false, adding that the agency has procedures for declaring anyone wanted.

Part of the EFCC statement read, “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 Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, wanted and requested the Department of State Service (DSS), to arrest him ‘anywhere he is seen’.

“Without prejudice to the case involving the former governor, the report is incorrect, as the commission has yet to declare Matawalle wanted or solicit the assistance of any agency including the DSS, to effect his arrest.

“The commission has standard procedure for declaring persons wanted and communicating same to the public, not through faceless ‘security sources’.”