Shinkafi Drags Matawalle Into Fresh Gold Scandal, Demands Proof Of 31Kg Gold Purchase

A former governorship aspirant in Zamfara State, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has demanded that the administration of Dauda Lawal publishes former Governor Bello Matawalle’s handing over note and transition committee report referencing gold purchase from 2020 to 2023.

Naija News reports that Shinkafi in a statement on Thursday.

He warned that if the government fails to publish the said documents in national newspapers within 14 days, he will be left with no option than to go to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the National Security Adviser (NSA).

He argued that citizens must hold elected public office holders at all levels accountable, insisting that sovereignty resides in the people.

Shinkafi said, “It is curious that three years after Bello Matawalle left office as governor of Zamfara State nothing has been heard of his administration’s well publicised Gold Reserve Initiative which he proudly presented to then President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja on 24th October 2020 with 31 kilograms of gold and precious stones he said Zamfara government procured to boost the financial base of the state.

“He told Buhari that the state had received offers from prospective buyers to supply them gold bars stating that the gold was mined and refined by local miners and concerned that few persons mined gold in Zamfara State and sell it abroad, that his government engaged the miners to block the chain of supply and avoid it entering into wrong hands due to security issue in the state.

“Buhari commended the initiative and said it was the first time Zamfara gold was presented to him since he became president.

“After Matawalle’s meeting with President Buhari he addressed the State House correspondents where he alleged that some foreigners exchange arms for gold and stones in the state which he implored the Federal Government to investigate.

“Zamfara State is blessed with solid mineral deposits in commercial quantity.

“It has become come necessary to ascertain the quantity of gold the Matawalle government purchased with public funds meant for projects and payment of salaries and wages.

“The current value of the 31 kilograms of gold Matawalle presented to Buhari is estimated at five billion nine hundred and fifty two billion naira.

“In October 2020, then Governor Bello Matawalle addressed a world press conference stating that the government had saved funds through the establishment of the Zamfara State Gold Reserve Initiative for the benefit of the people.

“It is on record that in April 2019, after its Federal Executive Council meeting, the Federal Government suspended all exploration and mining activities in Zamfara State due to widespread insecurity there. The office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno made a public statement on behalf of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency suspending mining activities in Zamfara State which was lifted in 2025, after six years.

“In view of the Federal Government’s suspension of solid minerals mining from 2019 to 2025, who approved then Governor Bello Matawalle government’s engagement in gold trade which he claimed he bought from local miners.

“We call on the current Zamfara State Government to publicly publish the handover note and transition committee report where gold purchased by Matawalle’s administration were stated and where the Zamfara State Gold Reserve Initiative is kept.

“Take notice that failure to publish the said documents within 14 days, we will be left with no option than to report same to the EFCC, ICPC, NFIU and NSA to thoroughly investigate the legality or otherwise of the Bello Matawalle government’s engagement in solid minerals at the time the Federal Government had suspended mining activities in Zamfara State to combat armed banditry there.(Sic)”