The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court dismissing an appeal filed by former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, over the ownership of more than 40 official vehicles seized from his residence after he left office in May 2023.
In June 2023, the police raided Matawalle’s residence and recovered over 40 vehicles which the former governor and members of his cabinet had taken away before handing over.
According to a statement by the spokesperson to the Zamfara State Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice A.M. Talba on August 8, 2025, dismissed Matawalle’s appeal.
The statement said the court ruled in Appeal No. CS//S/2024 – Bello Muhammed Matawalle vs Nigeria Police & Others that the Federal High Court in Sokoto was right to affirm the power of the police to investigate alleged crimes.
In the ruling, the court insisted that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence to prove his claim of ownership of the vehicles.
As such, it ruled that his fundamental right to own property had not been violated.
The statement recalled: “In June 2023, the Zamfara State Government gave former governor Bello Matawalle and his deputy five working days to return all vehicles stolen. However, all attempts to recover these vehicles were unsuccessful, prompting the Zamfara State Government to seek a court order. After the order was issued, police recovered over 40 vehicles.”
It added that although Matawalle had previously secured an interim order from the Federal High Court in Gusau directing the return of the vehicles, the matter was later transferred to the Sokoto division, which dismissed his suit in December 2023.
The Appeal Court, while affirming that dismissal, further ruled: “The entire procedure followed by the State Government in the retrieval of the stolen vehicles is in line with the law, as such, does not offend the fundamental right of Bello Matawalle, as alleged, and thus cannot shield him from investigation and prosecution.”
Appeal Court upholds ruling against Matawalle over 40 seized official vehicles
