My predecessor involved in banditry, Financial Mismanagement – Dauda Lawal alleges

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has made serious allegations against his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, accusing him of involvement in the state’s ongoing banditry crisis.

Speaking during a political program on TVC, Governor Lawal claimed that Matawalle, who now serves as the **Minister of State for Defence**, led a government that had close ties with bandits.

Lawal further accused the former governor of mishandling state resources, alleging that funds meant for addressing insecurity were siphoned under his administration.

“Yes, there were a lot of issues in the past, with my predecessor. In fact, let me state this very categorically, if I were him (Matawalle), I would resign and face all the allegations against me and that would have been more honourable. Because from all the information we are getting, my predecessor (Matawalle) was fully involved in some of these banditry issues,” Lawal said.

Justifying his claim that his predecessor was involved in the banditry issues, he recounted how a permanent secretary during Matawalle’s administration paid ransom through the government house to free his children abducted by bandits.

The governor said, “Typical is the fact that there was a permanent secretary whose children were abducted and it was unfortunate he had to pay ransom through the Government House. It was also very clear based on all the allegations that bandits were being kept at the Government House. And there were so many other issues.”

He added that he was Matawalle, he would have resigned to clear his name from all allegations against him.

“So, for me honestly, if I were him, I would step aside and face these allegations until I clear my name before I come back to continue my job. How can you imagine these allegations against him and he’s still the minister of defence? I mean, that is unfair. This man could have been honourable, stepped aside and faced these allegations, cleared his name, and come back to continue his job,” Lawal said.

He added that his predecessor’s file was before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and that it was surprising that the same person was cleared by lawmakers and security outfits for the post of minister.

“In May 2023, there was this allegation of misappropriating over N70 billion and when we took over, we realised that N70 billion was child’s play compared to the rot on the ground and all this information was before the EFCC and I wondered how this guy was cleared by the security operatives before he’s confirmed as a minister. If I were him, I would still face the EFCC and say look, let me clear my name.

“This is a father to 41 children and for goodness sake, what kind of legacy is he going to leave for his children when you are being accused of misappropriating such amount of money? So, he should have come out clean, faced EFCC, and cleared his name.

“But we are still waiting to hear from the EFCC and the case has been going on for over a year now. Meanwhile, this is people’s money that we are talking about. We need this money in Zamfara with all the challenges we are facing, including financial constraints. At least, let’s have some of this money back to Zamfara so that we can work for the people of the state,” Lawal said.

When contacted for a reaction, Mattawalle’s Personal Assistant (Media), Ahmad Dan Wudil, said the minister would soon respond to the allegations by the governor.

“I will forward you our response today regarding that allegation. I will get back to you,” Wudil told our correspondent during a telephone conversation on Thursday.