Governor Bello Muhammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has reacted to a statement credited to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Malam Abdulrasheed Bawa, in which he claimed he had sent invitations to all outgoing Governors and Commissioners in a bid to commence investigation into alleged corruption and abuse of office perpetrated by them while in office.
The governor, in a press statement on Wednesday, personally signed by him said the move by the anti-graft agency to probe outgoing governors and commissioners should be extended to officers in the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency and ministers.
Matawalle said “My attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Malam Abdulrasheed Bawa, in which he claimed he has sent invitations to all outgoing Governors and Commissioners in a bid to commence investigation into alleged corruption and abuse of office perpetrated by them while in office.
“While this is appropriate and commendable because it’s important for political office holders to account for their actions in office and EFCC is imbued with the power of investigation, however, this power must be exercised judiciously.
“The investigation must be holistic and not selective. It is in this respect that the recent invitations and pronouncement by the EFCC Chair is imbalanced, incomplete, hypocritical and unnecessarily skewed.
“This is counterproductive to the anti-corruption crusade itself, that is if Malam Bawa is actually committed to one.
“In a bid to help the obvious knowledge gap and inertia exhibited by the EFCC Chair, the probe should be all-embracing and cover all officers.
“I demand that the EFCC chair extend similar invitations to officers of the Presidency and members of the Federal Executive Council, which is the highest tier of government in the country.”
Matawalle has been in the media space where pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari, not to approve any study leave for any officer critical to the take-off of the incoming administration Bola Tinubu.