The Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, has upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court, Sokoto, which dismissed the appeal filed by former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, over the ownership of more than 40 official vehicles taken away after the 2023 general elections.
A statement by the Spokesperson to the Zamfara State Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the court’s three-man panel, in a unanimous decision delivered by Justice A. M. Talba on 8th August 2025, ruled that the former governor failed to present credible evidence to support his claim of ownership of the vehicles recovered from his residence.
"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"
The court further affirmed that, the police have the constitutional power to investigate allegations of crime, and that the recovery of the vehicles by security agencies was in line with due process and did not violate the fundamental rights of the former governor.
It could be recalled that in June 2023, acting on a complaint by the Zamfara State Government, police raided the residence of Bello Matawalle and recovered over 40 official vehicles allegedly taken away by him and his cabinet before handing over power on May 29, 2023.
Governor Dauda Lawal had earlier given the former governor and his deputy five working days to return all government vehicles.
"When the vehicles were not returned, the state government sought and obtained a court order, leading to their recovery by the police"
Bello Matawalle had approached the Federal High Court in Gusau, seeking an order for the vehicles to be returned to him and the enforcement of his right to own property.
"The case was later transferred to the Federal High Court, Sokoto Division, which in December 2023 dismissed his claims and affirmed that the vehicles remained the property of the Zamfara State Government"
Dissatisfied, Matawalle appealed the judgment. However, the Appeal Court upheld the earlier decision, stating that the process adopted by the state government in retrieving the vehicles was lawful and that the former governor could not use claims of fundamental rights as a shield against investigation and possible prosecution.
