Documented cases of fraud, corruption, and financial misconduct by Zamfara State government officials and agencies during the 2023–present term. Sources linked on each card.
3
Total cases
0
Convicted
0
Ongoing
0
Dismissed
Govt response:
In progressPursuing
Allegation
The EFCC opened an investigation into former Governor Bello Matawalle over an alleged ₦70 billion fraud; a transition committee set up by Governor Lawal and headed by former Inspector-General MD Abubakar separately reported that over ₦250 billion in state funds were misappropriated or misapplied under Matawalle, while the APC Akida Forum has accused Matawalle of misappropriating ₦528 billion.
Outcome / Status
As of the most recent information reviewed, no charges had been filed against Matawalle in connection with these figures, and the competing amounts cited by different investigators have not been independently reconciled.
Administration's response
The Zamfara government under Lawal has publicly stood by its transition committee's ₦250bn finding and supported continued EFCC scrutiny of the previous administration.
disputeddisputed
Allegation
The Situation Room on Monitoring the War Against Banditry, a civil-society coalition, petitioned President Tinubu in September 2025 to freeze federal allocations to Zamfara and impose emergency measures, alleging that Governor Lawal's handling of security votes has effectively subsidised banditry, and pointing to a viral video in which the governor acknowledged knowing bandit kingpins' locations without describing decisive follow-up action.
Outcome / Status
The group demanded a joint EFCC, DSS, and National Security Adviser audit of security-vote expenditure; as of the most recent information reviewed, no such audit's findings had been made public and the underlying diversion allegation remains unproven.
Administration's response
No detailed on-record government rebuttal of the specific diversion allegation was identified for this entry; the state government has continued to publicise its security reforms and Security Trust Fund activities.
disputeddisputed
Allegation
DMO records show Zamfara's domestic debt rose by ₦14.26 billion between June and December 2023 — a period spanning the transition from the Matawalle to the Lawal administration.
Outcome / Status
Governor Lawal denied his government had borrowed any funds since taking office on 29 May 2023, stating the loan was contracted by the immediate past administration; no independent reconciliation confirming which administration is responsible was identified for this entry.
Administration's response
The Lawal administration maintains it has pursued a no-new-borrowing fiscal policy since inception.