The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court dismissing the case filed by former Zamfara State Governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, over the seizure of more than 40 vehicles he claimed as personal property.
The vehicles were recovered by the police in June 2023 from Matawalle’s residence following a complaint by the Zamfara State Government that they were official assets taken without authorization after Matawalle lost re-election and left office on May 29, 2023.
According to a statement by Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, a three-member panel of the Appeal Court, led by Hon. Justice A.M. Talba, unanimously dismissed Matawalle’s appeal on August 8, 2025.
The court held that the police acted within their powers in investigating the alleged crime and that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence proving he owned the vehicles. Therefore, his claims of a violation of property rights were without merit.
“The Zamfara State Government had earlier issued a five-day ultimatum to Matawalle and his deputy to return the vehicles. After they failed to comply, the government obtained a court order, leading to the police seizure of over 40 vehicles,” the statement noted.
Matawalle had approached the Federal High Court in Gusau to challenge the seizure and also filed a separate suit to enforce his fundamental rights. However, the Zamfara government successfully applied to have the matter transferred to the Federal High Court in Sokoto, which dismissed his claims in December 2023.
Unhappy with the decision, Matawalle filed an appeal — which has now been dismissed.
The Appeal Court affirmed the Sokoto court’s ruling, emphasizing that the police are legally empowered to investigate alleged crimes and that the process followed by the Zamfara State Government did not violate Matawalle’s rights.
The vehicles remain the property of the Zamfara State Government.
