The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the Federal High Court’s decision dismissing the appeal filed by former governor Bello Matawalle, challenging the decision that the official vehicles he allegedly carted away after he lost at the 2023 General Elections were his personal property.
Recalled that in June 2023, based on a complaint by the Zamfara State Government, the Zamfara Police raided the residence of Matawalle, seizing more than 40 official vehicles in his possession.
A statement by the Spokesperson of the Zamfara State Governor, Sulaiman Idris, said that a three-member panel of the Appeal Court, in a unanimous decision by Justice A.M Talba on 08 August 2025, dismissed Matawalle’s appeal.
According to him, the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CS//S/2024 – Bello Muhammed Matawalle vs Nigeria Police & Others, held that the decision of the Federal High Court Sokoto division on the right of the Police to investigate allegations of commission of crime was correct.
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 has been breached.
The statement reads: “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 judgment, Bello Matawalle approached the Appeal Court.
However, in an updated statement by the government house said the Appeal Court delivered judgment against the former governor.
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“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”.
Source: Channels TV
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