EFCC begins investigation on alleged N200bn fraudulent activities in Zamfara

The Sokoto zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is currently investigating over sixty cases from Zamfara State in relation to the past administration.

Similarly, fifty-three tricycles recovered from a contractor was also handed over to the state government.

The Sokoto zonal head of the commission, Abdullahi Lawal, while handing the tricycle to Zamfara state SSG, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru on Monday, stated that the cases are against individuals, public and private corporate organizations as well as government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

Lawal said, "The amount involved is over N200bn, and several bank accounts connected to fraudulent activities in regards to this investigation, have been frozen by the Commission.

"We are carrying out a clinical investigation into the activities of the last administration and we want to assure the people of Zamfara State that the commission will not relent on its oars to prosecute anyone found culpable.

"It is also on note that several contractors who have abandoned their projects after receiving billions of naira have mobilised back to sites in the state as a result of this investigation.

"Contractors who have collected payments and yet to commence, complete or handover projects are called upon to urgently mobilize back to site in their own interests."

He disclosed that the Commission will embark on project monitoring and evaluation in collaboration with experts from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as well as Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, to ascertain the quality of the job.

Responding, the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, who represented the Governor, Hon. Bello Matawalle commended the efforts of the Commission on the recovery.

Alhaji Maru said, "On behalf of the Governor of Zamfara state and the entire citizens of the state, we appreciate the effort of the EFCC and promise to continue to cooperate with them in whatever means to unravel all the corruption cases ongoing in Zamfara.

"We are also promising to involve the Commission on the distribution of these recovered items by furnishing them with names and contact of the beneficiaries, as well as witnessing the process of it's distribution."