US Lawmaker Alleges Bribery Attempt by Nigeria’s Defence Minister Matawalle

A United States lawmaker has alleged that Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, attempted to bribe a U.S. official in a bid to influence the narrative surrounding an international report on security issues in Nigeria.

The allegation was made by Kimberly Daniels, a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives. According to her, the alleged bribery attempt was aimed at altering the findings of a report by the United World Congress of Diplomats (UN-WCD), which addressed killings of Christians in parts of Nigeria.

Daniels disclosed the claim in a video shared on her official Facebook page on April 21, 2026, stating that a U.S. elected official was allegedly offered money to “change the narrative” of the report.

She further alleged that the move was intended to downplay or conceal aspects of the report that reportedly implicated Matawalle in relation to ongoing security concerns in states such as Plateau, Kaduna, and Benue.

The U.S. lawmaker maintained that she would continue to speak on the issue despite what she described as pressure to discredit her position. She also previously called on Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take action regarding Matawalle’s role in government.

As of the time of reporting, the Nigerian Minister of State for Defence has not issued an official response to the allegation.

Background

Bello Matawalle has served as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence since 2023 and previously held office as Governor of Zamfara State.

According to research on Wikipedia

The allegation adds to ongoing international scrutiny and domestic debates over Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly in regions affected by banditry and communal violence.