Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle has come under scrutiny after being linked to terrorism in the country.
Matawalle is accused of procuring automobiles for bandit leaders, including infamous kingpin Bello Turji, and others while serving as Zamfara State Governor.
On Wednesday, the current state governor, Dauda Lawal, went on TVC, a national television network, and called on the minister to quit.
He said, “If I were him (Matawalle), I would resign and face all the allegations against me because, from all the information we are getting, my predecessor was fully involved in some of this banditry.”
According to Lawal, the former governor kept terrorists at the government house, and ransom was paid to terrorists through the government.
“In May 2023, there was this allegation of misappropriation of N70bn. We realized that the N70bn was a child’s play compared to what we have. This information is before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and I wonder how this guy was cleared by the security operatives to become a minister.
“We are still waiting to hear from the EFCC; the case has been on for a year now. This is people’s money; we need the money in Zamfara to address the challenges we are facing.”
A presidential aide contacted to speak on the matter declined comment. “You will get the answer to your question when the President announces the new cabinet list soon,” the source said.
However, It is not the first time Matawalle will face accusations of sponsoring banditry.
In January 2022, while serving as state governor under the All Progressives Congress, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party had called for Matawalle’s resignation over alleged banditry sponsorship.
