Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has denied the claim by Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, that its Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, allegedly demanded two million dollars as a bribe from him.
The commission’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement in Abuja, dared the governor to prove his allegation with evidence to back his claim.
Matawalle had in an interview with a foreign media accused Bawa of asking for the bribe.
The anti-graft agency is probing the governor over an alleged N70 billion fraud.
The EFCC said the governor allegedly siphoned Zamfara’s funds sourced as a loan from an old-generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects in local governments in the state.
Matawalle in the interview accused the EFCC of targeting only governors, while ignoring officials with budgetary allocation at the federal level.
“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 the world evidence of those at the federal level…..
“He requested a bribe of two million dollars from me and I have evidence of this,” the governor alleged.
Uwujaren, however, said EFCC would not be drawn into a mud fight with a suspect under investigation for corruption and unconscionable pillage of the resources of his state.
“The attention of the EFCC has been drawn to a trending interview granted to the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), by Bello Muhammed Matawalle, Governor of Zamfara State.
“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 in spite of 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,” he said.
Uwujaren also said the commission was collaborating with international partners to frustrate plans by some alleged corrupt officials planning to flee Nigeria before May 29.
“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,” he said.
(OYS/IAA)