The Zamfara State Government says it has recovered about 50 operational vehicles allegedly taken away by the immediate past governor of the state, Bello Matawalle.
Briefing journalists in Gusau, Sani Sambo, a spokesperson for Governor Dauda Lawal said the action followed the judgement by a Federal High Court in Sokoto last Friday.
He said due process was carefully followed to recover the vehicles from the Gusau and Maradun residences of the former governor who earlier denied having possession of any government property when he was leaving office as governor.
However, on Friday, former governor of Zamfara State and current Minister of Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, has taken legal action to contest a Federal High Court’s decision ordering the retrieval of 50 luxury vehicles purportedly belonging to the state government. The controversial police invasion of Matawalle’s residence in June, following his departure from office, aimed to recover the vehicles.
In response to the high court’s ruling that deemed the vehicle recovery justified, Matawalle, through his legal representative, Dr Ahmed Raji, SAN, has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal. Raji raised six grounds of appeal, alleging a “miscarriage of justice” and asserting that the court erred in law. The lawyer contends that the high court failed to conduct a thorough evaluation of the evidence before arriving at a judgement against his client.
The police command in Zamfara State had conducted a raid on Matawalle’s residence to retrieve the 50 luxury vehicles, prompting the former governor to challenge the “illegal” invasion in the high court. However, the court ruled in favor of the police action, deeming the retrieval of the vehicles as warranted.
Reacting to the development, netizens criticized the former governor former governor for taking the property of the government into private possession.
@waspaping said, “Zamfara state seizes 50 vehicles from ex-Governor Matawalle, bought with public funds during four years of terror, displacing villagers. Remember, this is the same man whom your AT influencers were paid peanuts to promote as the savior of the very people he failed to protect.”
Tomide Akinribido wrote, “This is ridiculous. President Tinubu should immediately fire Matawalle and order his prosecution”
Joe Segun said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must ask Bello Matawalle to resign and clear his name from the numerous allegations leveled against him. It is indefensible to keep him in his cabinet. His choice was already controversial.”
@Dan_Borno said, “Why will Bello Matawalle take over 50 cars, for what reason exactly?”
