A Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has ordered the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, to return all official vehicles in his possession.
Recall that in June 2023, the Zamfara State Government issued a five-day ultimatum to the former governor and his deputy to return all official vehicles they allegedly took away.
Following Matawalle’s refusal to return the 50 vehicles, the state government resorted to obtaining a court order to retrieve the properties.
Subsequently, a total of over 50 vehicles were recovered from the former governor via the efforts of the Nigeria Police.
However, after the vehicles were recovered, Matawalle dragged the matter to the Federal High Court in Gusau.
The court then ordered the cars to be returned to him.
The former governor also filed a separate suit at the same court, seeking to enforce his fundamental right to own property, including the vehicles in question.
However, the state government requested that the case be transferred to another jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
In a statement issued on Monday by Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Sokoto Judicial Division, dismissed the matter on Friday and ordered that the vehicles be returned to the government.
“The court refused the relief sought by Bello Matawalle and rejected his claim to own the official vehicles.
“As a result, the vehicles are still considered the property of the Zamfara State government.
“Our government is committed to recovering all that rightfully belongs to the people through an all-encompassing rescue mission that will leave no stone unturned.
“The judgement by the Federal High Court will encourage us to ensure that justice prevails and all perpetrators of financial banditry in Zamfara are brought to book.”
