The Court of Appeal in Sokoto, upheld a Federal High Court ruling dismissing a suit by former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, confirming that over 40 vehicles seized from his residence are property of the Zamfara State Government.
The unanimous decision, delivered by a three-member panel led by Hon. Justice A.M. Talba, rejected Matawalle’s claim that the vehicles were his personal property.
The controversy began in June 2023, when the Zamfara State Government, under Governor Dauda Lawal-Dare, accused Matawalle of taking official vehicles before leaving office on May 29, 2023.
After Matawalle ignored a five-day ultimatum to return them, police, acting on a court order and search warrant, raided his residences in Gusau and Maradun, recovering over 40 vehicles.
Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, filed suits at the Federal High Court in Gusau, seeking to reclaim the vehicles and enforce his right to own property.
The case was transferred to the Sokoto division, which dismissed his claims in December 2023.
The Appeal Court ruled that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence of ownership and that the police acted lawfully in investigating the alleged theft.
The court further held that the retrieval did not violate Matawalle’s fundamental rights, leaving him open to potential further investigation.
Sulaiman Bala Idris, spokesperson for the Zamfara State Governor, described the verdict as a triumph for justice, emphasizing the state’s commitment to recovering looted assets.
“The procedure followed in retrieving the stolen vehicles aligns with the law,” Idris said, affirming the police’s authority to act on complaints of crime.
The recovered vehicles remain in the state’s custody as the government vows to continue its asset recovery efforts.
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