Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has given his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, an ultimatum of five days to return vehicles allegedly taken away by officials of his administration.
The governor gave the ultimatum in a statement issued Saturday on his behalf by his spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris.
He gave the details of the alleged missing vehicles, while vowing to recover looted funds and properties of the state government.
“The mischievous statement is only aimed at distracting us from doing the work that positively touches the lives of the people. Our time is precious and we cannot waste it in engaging or bandying words with a political party that spent four years without a single project beneficial to the people of Zamfara; instead their only achievement is massive looting of the state’s treasury.
“We have the facts and records available that expose Matawalle’s impropriety. Where is the lie? A contract was awarded by the former governor, for the purchase of vehicles to be distributed to dignitaries and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) at the cost of N1,149,800,000.
“The money was meant for the purchase of a Toyota Lexus VIP Bullet Proof 2021 Model; Toyota Land Cruiser VIP Bullet Proof 2021 Model; Toyota Prado V6 2021 Model; Toyota Prado V4 2021 Model; Peugeot 2021 Model; Toyota Hilux 2021 Model; Toyota Land Cruiser Bullet Proof 2021; and Toyota Lexus 2021 Model,” the statement explained.
The statement also alleged that on the 4th of October 2021 the former governor paid a contractor for the supply of three bulletproof Jeeps at the sum of N484, 512, 500.
According to the statement, another contract for the supply of seven sets of bulletproof Prado Jeeps and Land Cruiser at the sum of N459, 995, 000 was also paid for while the supply of seven Toyota Hilux vehicles at the sum of N228, 830, 000 was also awarded.
“On the 19th of May 2021, Matawalle paid for the supply of 30 sets of Peugeot 406 cars at the sum of N61,200,000,” the statement added.
Also, on December 15, 2021, Matawalle allegedly paid for the supply of one bulletproof Land Cruiser for the sum of N130, 000, 000, the statement said.
Also, on February 26, 2022, Matawalle paid N160,000,000 for the supply of two Land Cruiser Jeeps 2021 model, while the sum of N120,000,000 was also paid for the supply of three vehicles for the office of the deputy governor, according to the statement.
“It is the height of indignity for the Zamfara APC to continue to fizzle at a time when all the above official vehicles were looted by the immediate past government . None of the vehicles are available in the Government House. This is a show of shame, not only to the state chapter of the APC but to anyone justifying the action of Matawalle.
“We have communicated officially to former Governor Bello Matawalle and his Deputy to return all the missing vehicles within five working days.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had said it was probing Matawalle for alleged N70 billion fraud.
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