The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto has upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court that allowed the recovery of 40 official vehicles from the residence of former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle.
Delivering judgment on August 8, 2025, a three-member panel led by Justice A.M. Talba dismissed Matawalle’s appeal, stating that he failed to prove ownership of the vehicles. The court ruled that the seizure was lawful and that the Zamfara State Government followed due process.
The issue dates back to June 2023, shortly after Governor Dauda Lawal took office. The new administration accused Matawalle of holding onto government vehicles after leaving office. After failed attempts to retrieve the vehicles through dialogue, the state government secured a court order and recovered more than 40 cars from the former governor’s residence.
Matawalle, now a federal minister, challenged the action at the Federal High Court in Gusau, claiming his right to own property was violated. The case was later moved to the Federal High Court in Sokoto, which dismissed his claims in December 2023.
In its latest ruling, the Appeal Court confirmed that the police acted within their powers and that the seizure did not violate Matawalle’s fundamental rights. The court also noted that public officers cannot use fundamental rights claims to block legitimate investigations or avoid accountability.
This ruling strengthens the position of the Zamfara State Government, which has vowed to recover all public assets taken unlawfully by former officials.