Appeal Court upholds Zamfara govt’s seizure of 40 vehicles from Matawalle

The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld a Federal High Court ruling that dismissed former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle’s challenge against the confiscation of over 40 official vehicles removed from his residence after he left office in 2023.

A three-member panel of justices led by Justice A.M. Talba delivered the judgment on August 8, dismissing Matawalle’s appeal in case number CS//S/2024 – Bello Muhammed Matawalle vs Nigeria Police & Others. The court held that the former governor failed to provide convincing proof that the seized vehicles belonged to him personally.

It further ruled that Matawalle’s claim of a violation of his fundamental right to property had no merit, stressing that the vehicles were government assets.

Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, recalled that police operatives had raided Matawalle’s residence in June 2023 after he allegedly refused to surrender the vehicles despite being given five days to comply.

The statement explained:“In June 2023, the Zamfara State Government gave former governor Bello Matawalle and his deputy five working days to return all vehicles stolen.

“However, all attempts to recover these vehicles were unsuccessful, prompting the Zamfara State Government to seek a court order. After the order was issued, police recovered over 40 vehicles.

“After the vehicles were recovered, Bello Matawalle approached the Federal High Court in Gusau and the court granted an order that the cars be returned to him.

“Additionally, he filed a separate suit at the same court, seeking to enforce his fundamental right to own property, including the vehicles in question.

“The Zamfara State Government requested the transfer of the case to the Sokoto division of the Federal High Court.

“The Federal High Court of Nigeria, Sokoto Judicial Division, dismissed the matter in December 2023 and refused to grant any of the reliefs sought by Bello Matawalle. As a result, the vehicles are still considered the property of the Zamfara State Government.

“Not satisfied with the Federal High Court’s judgement, Bello Matawalle approached the Appeal Court.

“⁠The Appeal Court last Friday upheld the entirety of the judgement of the Federal High Court, Sokoto, affirming that the police have the power to investigate allegations of the commission of a crime upon receipt of a complaint.

“It added that the entire procedure followed by the State Government in the retrieval of the stolen vehicles is in line with the law, as such, does not offend the fundamental right of Bello Matawalle, as alleged, and thus cannot shield him from investigation and prosecution.”