The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court, dismissing the appeal filed by former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, over ownership claims to over 40 official vehicles recovered from his residence.
The vehicles, allegedly taken away by Matawalle after leaving office following the 2023 general elections, were seized in June 2023 by the police on the request of the Zamfara State Government.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, August 8, 2025, a three-member panel of the Appeal Court led by Justice A.M. Talba affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, Sokoto Division, which recognized the authority of the police to investigate criminal allegations and dismissed Matawalle’s claims.
According to the court, the former governor failed to present credible evidence proving ownership of the 40 vehicles, thereby nullifying his argument that his fundamental right to own property was infringed.
A statement issued by the spokesperson to the Zamfara State Governor, Sulaiman Idris, explained:
“In June 2023, the Zamfara State Government directed former Governor Matawalle and his deputy to return all government vehicles in their possession within five days. When the vehicles were not returned, the state government obtained a court order, which enabled the police to recover over 40 official vehicles from Matawalle’s residence.
“Despite the recovery, the former governor approached the Federal High Court in Gusau, seeking to reclaim the vehicles and also filed a suit alleging a breach of his fundamental right to own property. The case was later transferred to the Sokoto Division of the Federal High Court, which in December 2023 dismissed his claims in their entirety.”
Dissatisfied, Matawalle proceeded to the Appeal Court, but his case was once again dismissed.
The appellate court not only upheld the earlier judgment but also ruled that the Zamfara State Government acted fully within the law in retrieving the vehicles, stressing that due process was followed and no rights of the former governor were violated.
“The Court of Appeal affirmed that the police have the constitutional power to investigate alleged crimes upon receiving a complaint. It further ruled that the retrieval of the vehicles did not violate Matawalle’s rights, nor could it shield him from lawful investigation and possible prosecution,” the statement concluded.
With the judgment, the vehicles remain confirmed as property of the Zamfara State Government.
