Alleged Embezzlement: Plot To Remove Tinubu’s Minister Uncovered

A plot to remove Bello Muhammad Matawalle, the Minister of Defence has been uncovered, Osun Defender learnt.

Matawalle was accused by the Zamfara State Government of financial impropriety, including embezzlement related to the state cargo airport project.

Matawalle was also alleged of instructing the Ministry of Local Government to withdraw N1 billion from the local government joint account on October 25, 2021, and to pay N825 million to contractors without proper valuation.

Osun Defender gathered that the allegation has fuelled calls for the removal of the minister from President Tinubu’s cabinet.

Hundreds of pro-democracy activists had staged a protest march to the National Assembly calling for the immediate sack of the Minister of Defence over alleged committal of wrongdoings when he held sway as Governor of Zamfara State.

The protesters, under the aegis of the Civil Society Advocacy Groups for Accountability and Probity, particularly called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to exert his influence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure Matawalle is relieved of his job.

Led by Danesi Momoh, the protesters claimed that Matawalle cannot be trusted with the Defence Minister portfolio going by the Pandora’s Box as published by the Zamfara State government which found him of wanting of willfully embezzling billions of Naira through shady contract dealings, including the Gusau Cargo Airport.

Malam Salihu Abdullahi, the Director Sergeant at Arms of the national Assembly who received the petition on behalf of the Senate President expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly conduct of the protesters adding that he will convey their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

Reacting to the plot, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said those calling on President Bola Tinubu to remove Matawalle, as the Minister of State for Defence, are on a wild goose chase.

In a post via X on Friday, Fani Kayode said the unsubstantiated allegations against Matawalle are false, stressing it is sponsored and orchestrated by his enemies in Zamfara State to discredit and destroy him.

According to FFK, the former Governor worked assiduously and diligently during Tinubu’s presidential campaign, adding the claims that the President would consider dropping him as minister over a baseless accusation is absurd.

He wrote, “Those that have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove my friend and brother Dr. Bello Matawalle, the former Governor of Zamfara state, as the Minister of State for Defence are on a wild goose chase.

“I say this because firstly, the unsubstantiated allegations being made against him are false and are nothing but part of a well-sponsored and well-orchestrated plot by his enemies in Zamfara state to discredit and destroy him.

“Matawalle was the first Governor in the North West to pitch his tent with President Tinubu long before the presidential campaign even started, and he more than anyone else built the bridge of trust between the North and the South West.

“He worked assiduously and diligently day and night to achieve this and I can bear witness to that.

“The notion that President Bola Tinubu would contemplate dropping him from his cabinet simply because of the baseless allegations being peddled about him and after he has displayed such unalloyed support and help unquestioning loyalty is absurd.

“Those that are after Matawalle and are seeking his downfall are labouring in vain.

“I have known him for many years, he is a profoundly good man and he shall do an excellent excellent job as Minister of State for Defence.”