Court dismisses Matawalle’s appeal over 40 seized Zamfara government vehicles

The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has dealt a major setback to Bello Matawalle, former Zamfara governor, by upholding the ruling of the Federal High Court which dismissed his claim to more than 40 official vehicles seized from his residence after leaving office in May 2023.

The three-member panel led by Justice Abubakar Mahmud Talba ruled unanimously that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence proving the vehicles were his personal property.

The court also affirmed that the police acted lawfully in investigating and recovering the assets following a complaint by the Zamfara government.

“The judgment of the learned trial Judge is unassailable. It is in consonance with the settled principle of law. The appeal lacks merit and is dismissed,” the ruling stated.

In June 2023, after Matawalle’s electoral defeat, the Zamfara government demanded that he return all official vehicles within five working days. When he failed to comply, police raided his residence and recovered more than 40 vehicles.

According to Sulaiman Bala Idris, spokesperson to the Zamfara governor, Matawalle later filed suits at the Federal High Court in Gusau, claiming ownership of the vehicles and alleging violation of his fundamental rights. The matter was transferred to the Sokoto division, where the court dismissed his claims in December 2023.

Idris said the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CS//S/2024 – Bello Muhammed Matawalle vs Nigeria Police & Others, upheld the ruling of the lower court and affirmed the police’s right to investigate allegations of crime.

“It further held that Matawalle failed to adduce credible evidence to support his claim of ownership of the 40 vehicles recovered from his residence, as such lacks justification to allege that his fundamental right to own property was breached.

“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.

“⁠The Appeal Court last Friday upheld the entirety of the judgment 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 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.”

The appeal court ruling further stated: “The judgment of the learned trial Judge is unassailable. It is in consonance with the settled principle of law. The sole issue is resolved against the applicant. The appeal lacks merit, and it is dismissed. The judgment of the lower court on 1st December, 2023, in suit No FHC/S/CS/29/23 is hereby affirmed.”