Appeal Court upholds retrieval of 40 vehicles from Mattawalle’s residence

The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto has upheld the Federal High Court judgment affirming the recovery of 40 official vehicles from the residence of former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle.

A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice A.M. Talba, dismissed Matawalle’s appeal on August 8, 2025, ruling that he failed to provide credible evidence to support his claim of ownership of the vehicles.

The case stemmed from a raid on Matawalle’s residence in June 2023 after the former governor allegedly refused to return official vehicles to the new administration of Governor Dauda Lawal.

The Zamfara State Government, after unsuccessful demands for their return, obtained a court order which led to the recovery of more than 40 vehicles.

Matawalle had challenged the action at the Federal High Court in Gusau, arguing that his fundamental right to own property had been breached. He also sought an order for the vehicles to be returned to him.

The matter was later transferred to the Federal High Court in Sokoto, which dismissed his claims in December 2023.

In its ruling, the appellate court affirmed that the police acted within their powers to investigate allegations of crime and that the Zamfara State Government followed due process in recovering the vehicles.

It held that the retrieval did not infringe on Matawalle’s fundamental rights and could not shield him from investigation or possible prosecution.

Appeal Court upholds retrieval of 40 vehicles from Mattawalle’s residence