The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court, dismissing an appeal filed by former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, regarding the ownership of over 40 official vehicles seized after his tenure.
In June 2023, following a complaint by the Zamfara State Government, the state police raided Matawalle’s residence, where they recovered more than 40 vehicles that he and his cabinet had taken before leaving office on May 29, 2023. Despite the vehicles being returned, Matawalle disputed the seizure, claiming the cars were his personal property.
However, the Court of Appeal, in Appeal No. CS/S/2024 – Bello Muhammed Matawalle vs Nigeria Police & Others, ruled that the Federal High Court’s decision was correct. The court stated that the police were within their rights to investigate the alleged crime and that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence to prove ownership of the vehicles. As a result, the court concluded that his claim of a violation of his fundamental right to property was unfounded.
The ruling emphasized that the vehicles in question were not proven to belong to Matawalle, and therefore, the Zamfara State Government was right to request their return. The statement issued by the court clarified that the state government had given the former governor and his deputy five days to return the vehicles after they were removed from the state’s fleet. When this demand was ignored, the government sought legal action, ultimately leading to the police recovering the vehicles.
Despite this, Matawalle filed a suit in the Federal High Court in Gusau, seeking the return of the vehicles and the enforcement of his fundamental right to own property.
The court, however, dismissed his application in December 2023, ruling that the vehicles remained the property of the state government.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, Matawalle appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal upheld the Federal High Court’s ruling.
The court agreed that the entire procedure followed by the Zamfara State Government and the police in retrieving the vehicles was lawful. Furthermore, the court held that there was no infringement on Matawalle’s rights, as alleged, and the actions of the state government and the police did not violate any legal principles.
As a result, the vehicles remain under the control of the Zamfara State Government, and Matawalle’s claims were rejected by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
