APC Youth Group Urges EFCC To Resume Probe Against Defence Minister Bello Matawall

A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) known as the Young Leaders Alliance (YLA) staged a protest at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja on Friday, calling for the immediate revival of an investigation into corruption allegations involving Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s current Minister of State for Defence.

The YLA, which identified itself as a Kaduna-based socio-political pressure group, criticized the EFCC for allegedly abandoning the case, despite receiving several petitions and having previously expressed interest in investigating the former Zamfara State governor.

During the demonstration, the group delivered a formal petition, raising concerns over the agency’s perceived inaction. The petition questioned why the EFCC had not progressed with investigating the alleged financial irregularities between 2019 and 2023 involving Matawalle.

“We are officially urging the EFCC to reopen its investigation into corruption allegations against Bello Mohammed Matawalle, who now serves as Minister of State for Defence,” the group wrote in its letter.

The YLA accused Matawalle of disseminating misleading information in a recent live broadcast, where he claimed that his administration never handled close to ₦70 billion throughout its four-year term.

Contradicting Matawalle’s public statement, the group cited verified financial reports and official documents from that period that allegedly exposed discrepancies in his claims.

While addressing the media, Mohammed Ireyi, the spokesperson of the group, criticized what he termed EFCC’s “selective silence”, suggesting a potential lack of impartiality in the commission’s duties.

“If other ex-governors and ministers like Betta Edu, Yahaya Bello, and Darius Ishaku have undergone investigations or arrests, why is Matawalle seemingly exempt? Who is preventing the EFCC from fulfilling its mandate?” Ireyi questioned.

Furthermore, the protestors referenced a statement made in May 2023 by then EFCC spokesperson Osita Nwajah, who had confirmed that the commission was actively investigating Matawalle over allegations of large-scale corruption, awarding non-existent contracts, and the diversion of over ₦70 billion in public funds.

The group emphasized the importance of resuming the investigation, stating that it was necessary to reinforce the EFCC’s integrity and reaffirm its commitment to transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.

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