The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has hit back at the Governor of Zamafara state, Muhammed Bello Matawalle, over claim that the Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa demanded $2 Million bribe from him.
Matawalle, in an interview with BBC Hausa alleged that Bawa demanded a bribe of $2million bribe from him.
The outgoing Governor furthered he as proof to substantiate his claim against the EFCC boss, noting that Bawa is not worthy of public trust.
Matawalle had on Wednesday, asked the EFCC boss to resign his appointment, insisting that he must be probed.
The EFCC boss, however, dared Matawalle on Thursday, May 18 to publish his evidence against him.
According to Matawalle, “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.”
Commenting on the allegation, the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a press release on Friday noted that, “The attention of the EFCC has been drawn to a trending interview granted to the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), by the Governor of Zamfara state, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, where he allegedly made wild bribery allegations against the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.
“Matawalle’s recourse to mudslinging is symptomatic of a drowning man clutching at straws. But despite the irritation of his phantom claims, the Commission will not be drawn into a mud fight with a suspect under its investigation for corruption and unconscionable pillage of the resources of his state.
“If Matawalle will be taken seriously, he should go beyond sabre-rattling by spilling the beans, provide concrete evidence as proof of his allegations.”
Uwujaren said, “Again, the Commission wishes to alert the public about plans by some of the alleged corrupt politically exposed persons to flee the country ahead of May 29.
“The Commission is working in close collaboration with its international partners to frustrate these escape plans and bring those involved to justice.”
