The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it is probing Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, for alleged money laundering of public funds.

The EFCC noted that its investigation followed the intelligence it earlier received which showed that the governor was allegedly “using state funds to acquire several properties worth billions of naira in Abuja”.

In a preliminary investigation, the anti-graft agency revealed that one of the properties the governor allegedly bought is at Plot 729, Cadastral Zone C16, Idu Industrial Estate in Abuja.

EFCC, in a counter-affidavit it filed in a fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted by a firm, Fezel Nigeria Limited where the company accused the EFCC of invading its property on February 9, 2022, with armed men, forcefully taking over the premises and sealing it off since then.

Fezel, which claimed ownership of the property and leased it to Beisha Printing Press Limited, said construction works were ongoing in the building when the EFCC allegedly invaded.

EFCC however, faulted Fezel’s claims, insisting that the property was allegedly acquired for Governor Matawalle by proxy, Beisha Printing Press Limited.

“They are under discreet investigation, based on intelligence received by the second respondent on the purchase of the property with the proceeds of crime,” said EFCC referring to Beisha and Fezel.

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“One of such properties listed by the informant is Plot 729, Cadastral Zone C16, Idu Industrial Estate, Abuja, which the informant stated was purchased at N1,200,000,000.00, which sum was paid in cash by Dr. Bello Matawalle on behalf of his company, the first respondent (Beisha Printing Press Limited).

“Upon receipt of the credible intelligence, we conducted a search through our discreet source at Abuja Geographic Information Service (AGIS), which revealed that Plot 729, Industrial Estate, was originally allotted to Edhaanto Nigeria Limited in 1994. There is no evidence at AGIS that Edhaanto Nigeria Limited sold the property to the applicant,” the anti-graft agency said.

EFCC added that it received intelligence from its source that the first respondent (Beisha) was planning to remove all the heavy equipment and machines worth billions of naira from the property, having received a letter of invitation from the second respondent.

“Upon receipt of this intelligence, the second respondent proceeded to the property to arrest persons who were attempting to de-commission the equipment and dismantle the machines for easy removal from the property.

“The persons arrested were profiled, interviewed, and granted bail by the second respondent and one of the persons arrested, Evelyn Odagundoye, initially denied working for Dr. Bello Matawalle until the second respondent discovered through forensic analysis on her phone that she was running the business on the property for Dr. Bello Matawalle,” it said.

However, in a judgement on August 30, 2022, Justice Inyang Ekwo rejected EFCC’s position and faulted the procedure it adopted in sealing off the property.

The judge held that Fezel effectively established its ownership of the property and that the manner the EFCC forcefully entered and took over the property violated the applicant’s fundamental human rights.

He also held that the EFCC lacked the powers to seal off any citizen’s property or deny him/her access to it without first obtaining a court order.

The judge said the EFCC could conduct its investigation without sealing off the property and disrupting the businesses of the occupants.

Justice Ekwo, among others, restrained the EFCC from further interfering with the occupation of the property by the applicant and awarded N1 million in damages against the commission.

The Star