‘Hidden cash’: Matawalle invites EFCC to search house

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has offered to allow operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to search the property it claimed to have found stashed with money laundered through cash payment of salaries.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, on Thursday said the offer became necessary in view of the grand connivance by enemies of the state to rupture the hard-earned reputation and progress of the governor.

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The statement read, “To demonstrate the commitment of the state government in this direction, the governor has already directed his attorneys to officially communicate to the agency this offer and list of demands in this direction, including retracting the fake news by the SaharaReporters against his person.

“Government will not take it lightly with anyone who tries to add salt (sic) to security injury inflicted on the good people of Zamfara through tarnishing the good image of the Governor to be distracted from the efforts and successes being recorded in the fight against banditry in the state.

“The governor has since the assumption of office about four years ago, been administering the state in the most responsible ways and manner, in spite of the enormous security challenges and meagre resources at the disposal of the government and cannot be allowed to turn subject of relegation and ridicule in the eye of the public.”

The statement stressed that the state government under Matawalle had never paid its workers’ salary through table payment, adding that it could not afford to do so, “at this material time when the government agreed to implement the national minimum wage of N30,000.”

Dosara said the governor is committed to the well-being, welfare and security of lives and property of the people of the state, adding that he would not allow enemies of the state to distract him.