By: Bello Galadi,
Few days ago, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdul- Rashid Bawa said they are investigating the outgoing Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency Bello Mohammed Matawallen Maradun for N70bn fraud.
Few hours later, Matawalle, in an interview with BBC Hausa said Bawa is corrupt and had demanded USD2m bribe from him.
The office of the Chairman of EFCC is a noble and exalted one. It is a creation of Section 2(1)(a)(i) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, LFN 2004. As the EFCC Chairman, Bawa ought to be a role model to his staff in particular and Nigerians in general. It was therefore wrong on his part to have engaged Matawalle in public. If he thinks he has the needed evidence at his disposal to prosecute Matawalle, prosecute him quietly and stop the noisemaking. The general public is more interested in the result than the noise.
The office of the governor of a state is a noble and exalted one. It is a creation of Section 176 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended). As the No. 1 citizen of a state, Matawalle ought to be a role model to the 4, 000, 000 indigenes of Zamfara State in particular and Nigerians in general.
It was therefore wrong on his part to have engaged Bawa in public. If he thinks he has sufficient evidence to establish his allegations that Bawa is corrupt, there are two basic ways to handle the situation instead of the noisemaking.
One, since Bawa does not enjoy immunity under Section 308 of the Constitution, simply petition the ICPC or the Police and invite them to investigate him. If that option didn’t work, use your political connections to plead with the President to remove him. Simple!
The allegations by Matawalle against Bawa are serious ones and too serious to be carpeted.
I am therefore appealing to the Inspector- general of Police to swing into action and investigate those allegations.
On the allegations of Bawa against Matawalle, it is morally and legally inappropriate for the EFCC under the same Bawa to proceed with investigation, because, as it is now, Bawa is an interested party.
The principle of “Nemo judex in causa sua” is applicable in the present circumstance. It simply means, you cannot be a judge in your own case.
There are two basic options for Bawa: one, to step aside as the Chairman of EFCC pending the determination of the case of Matawalle, or in the alternative, to transfer the matter to the Police or ICPC for further investigation and necessary action.
In a matter of days, it will be clear to us as to the real corrupt person between Bawa and Matawalle.
We are watching.
Galadi is a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gusau Branch (covering Zamfara State). He is the President of Bello Galadi Foundation.
He can be reached on:Muhammadbel_law@yahoo.com and muhammadbellaw80@gmail.com and twitter handle:@bello_galadi10th May, 2023
