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    Court Okays Move to Probe Ex-Gov Matawalle’s Alleged Banditry Ties

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    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted permission for a lawsuit aimed at compelling the Federal Government to investigate the alleged involvement of Bello Matawalle, the former governor of Zamfara State and the current Minister of State for Defence, in banditry operations within the state.

    This ruling comes amidst increasing concerns about the ongoing security crisis in Zamfara State, where banditry and kidnapping have terrorized the population, leading to widespread displacement, loss of lives, and destruction of property.

    The legal action was brought forward by Abubakar Dahiru, a Zamfara-based human rights activist, who petitioned the court to order an investigation into Matawalle’s alleged connections with the bandits wreaking havoc in the region.

    In his suit, Dahiru made serious allegations against the former governor, citing multiple reports that have linked Matawalle to banditry. These accusations, according to the plaintiff, are yet to be properly addressed by the authorities.

    The suit is seeking the court to declare that the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other key officials must direct the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to launch a full investigation into Matawalle’s alleged involvement in the activities of armed bandits and kidnappers in Zamfara State.

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    Dahiru argues that the former governor’s tenure, which spanned from 2019 to 2023, saw a dramatic rise in armed banditry and kidnapping, escalating to levels that have devastated the lives of thousands of citizens.

    Many Zamfara residents were left displaced, orphaned, and homeless due to the activities of criminals who, according to Dahiru, were enabled by a lack of strong action by the state government at the time.

    The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1434/2024, names President Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Inspector General of Police as the first to third defendants, respectively.

    The plaintiff, through his counsel, Mr. Ojonimi Apeh, is asking the court to issue a ruling that mandates the Federal Government to investigate the former governor.

    Specifically, Dahiru wants the court to declare that the president has the authority, under the Constitution of Nigeria, to direct the police to investigate any security threat in the country. He also referenced Section 215(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which empowers the president to give directions regarding public safety and order.

    The plaintiff further contends that despite numerous public accusations against Matawalle, no concrete action has been taken by the government to either prove or disprove these allegations.

    “There is a high wave of armed banditry and kidnapping in Zamfara State. These criminal activities began small, like a mustard seed, but grew alarmingly during the period between 2019 and 2023 when Hon. Bello Matawalle was the governor of Zamfara State,” the lawsuit claims.

    In his statement of claim, Dahiru pointed out that the allegations against Matawalle have been widely publicized by different sources. He cited an interview given by the current governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, on TVC Television on September 18, 2024, in which Lawal accused Matawalle of having ties to bandits and kidnappers in the state.

    Additionally, Dahiru referenced a report published in the 21st Century Chronicles online newspaper on September 22, 2024, by Umoru Faruk Salifu, which also accused Matawalle of aiding bandits. Salifu claimed the former governor had provided vehicles for the criminals, sabotaged efforts by security forces, and even granted amnesty to terrorists in the region.

    Dahiru also mentioned an article written by Professor Abdussamad Umar Jibia, which chronicled a series of allegations linking Matawalle to the bandits and kidnappers in Zamfara State. According to these reports, Matawalle’s alleged complicity in the violence has been a major factor in the state’s inability to curb the menace of banditry.

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    The plaintiff, in his submission, stressed that despite the weight of the allegations against Matawalle, the government has so far failed to take any meaningful steps to investigate the former governor’s role in the security crisis in Zamfara.

    “Despite the open allegations as to the involvement of Hon. Bello Matawalle with banditry and kidnapping in Zamfara State, no efforts have been made by the government to investigate him to come out with the truth or falsity of these allegations while the spate of banditry and kidnapping continue to reign in Zamfara State to the detriment of citizens,” the suit noted.

    Dahiru emphasized that the people of Zamfara have suffered greatly due to the unrelenting attacks from bandits. Many citizens have been subjected to extortion, physical harm, and emotional trauma, while others have lost their loved ones in the violence.

    His legal action seeks to ensure that those responsible for enabling and perpetuating the insecurity in Zamfara State are held accountable for their actions.

    Dahiru’s suit is rooted in the argument that the president, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has a constitutional duty to direct law enforcement agencies to maintain public safety. He insists that it is imperative for President Tinubu to authorize an investigation into Matawalle’s alleged connections to the bandits in order to restore peace and security in Zamfara.

    While the lawsuit does not claim that Matawalle is guilty of the accusations, it asserts that an investigation is necessary to determine the truth. This, Dahiru argues, is the only way to resolve the matter and bring justice to the victims of banditry in Zamfara State.

    As of now, the court has yet to fix a date for the hearing of the case. However, the approval of the suit to proceed is a significant step toward addressing the persistent allegations against the former Zamfara governor.

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