Governor Accuses EFCC Chairman of $2 million Bribery Request, Calls for Resignation

• Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, accuses Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of requesting a $2 million bribe.

• The governor demands Bawa’s resignation and questions the EFCC’s selective scrutiny in corruption investigations.

• Bawa denies the accusations, encourages the governor to provide evidence, and asserts his commitment to transparency.

Governor Accuses EFCC Chairman of Bribery Request, Calls for Resignation

In a dramatic turn of events, Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has publicly accused Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of soliciting a $2 million bribe. The allegation comes amid a growing conflict between the governor and the anti-corruption agency.

Governor Matawalle had previously called for Bawa’s resignation, asserting that the EFCC Chairman should face scrutiny over corruption allegations. In a statement released on Wednesday, the governor demanded accountability and transparency from Bawa and the EFCC.

In response to these accusations, Chairman Bawa vehemently denied the bribery allegations and emphasized his commitment to upholding the principles of integrity and justice. He challenged Governor Matawalle to provide substantial evidence to support his claims and encouraged him to present his case before the appropriate authorities.

In a BBC Hausa interview, Governor Matawalle expressed his skepticism towards Bawa and raised questions regarding the EFCC’s selective scrutiny.

He voiced his concerns about the agency’s focus on governors while seemingly ignoring potential corruption at the federal level.

The governor stated, “If he exits office, people will surely know he is not an honest person. I have evidence against him.”

Governor Matawalle further revealed that Bawa had requested a bribe of $2 million from him and claimed to possess evidence to substantiate his allegation. The governor asserted that he declined the bribe and emphasized his willingness to expose the alleged misconduct.

He challenged Bawa to step down from his position, expressing confidence that numerous individuals would come forward with evidence of bribes the EFCC Chairman had allegedly accepted.

As the conflict between Governor Matawalle and Chairman Bawa unfolds, it raises concerns about the integrity and transparency of the anti-corruption agency. Both parties have made strong assertions, and the dispute highlights the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth. The accusations and counter-accusations indicate a serious rift that must be addressed to ensure public trust in the EFCC’s efforts to combat corruption.

In conclusion, the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has accused Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman of the EFCC, of soliciting a $2 million bribe. Governor Matawalle has called for Bawa’s resignation and questioned the agency’s approach in investigating corruption cases.

While Bawa denies the allegations and challenges the governor to provide evidence, this dispute underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the fight against corruption. As the situation unfolds, it is crucial for the truth to be revealed and for appropriate actions to be taken to restore public confidence in the EFCC’s operations.

Matawalle in his words: “It is not just to always blame governors. It is not only governors who have treasury, the federal government also has. What does the EFCC boss do to them? As he is claiming he has evidence on governors, let him show to the world evidence of those at the federal level”.

“If he exits office, people will surely know he is not an honest person. I have evidence against him. Let him vacate office, I am telling you within 10 seconds probably more than 200 people will bring evidences of bribe he collected from them. He knows what he requested from me but I declined.

“He requested a bribe of $2 million from me and I have evidence of this. He knows the house we met, he invited me and told me the conditions. He told me governors were going to his office but I did not. If I don’t have evidence, I won’t say this.”