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“EFCC Chairman demanded $2m bribe from me” – Gov Matawalle alleges

Published

2 years ago

May 20, 2023

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has accused the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, of demanding $2 million bribe from him.

He made the allegation amid the growing rift between him and the anti-graft agency.

In a statement released on Wednesday, May 19, Governor Matawalle called for Bawa’s resignation and accused him of engaging his office to carry out corrupt practices.

Responding, EFCC Chairman in an interview with BBC Hause, said he had nothing to hide and asked Matawalle to petition appropriate authorities if he had any evidence against him.

In a fresh interview with BBC Hausa on Friday May 19, Governor Matawalle alleged that the antigraft boss had at some time asked him for a bribe of $2 million.

“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.”