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Appeal Court affirms seizure of over 40 vehicles from ex-governor.
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Matawalle’s appeal dismissed for lack of credible ownership proof.
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Zamfara government and police actions declared lawful.
The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the seizure of more than 40 vehicles from former Zamfara governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
A three-member panel led by Justice A. M. Talba ruled on 8 August 2025 that the Federal High Court was right in dismissing Matawalle’s claim. The court declared that the police acted within the law when they retrieved the vehicles based on a valid order.
The vehicles were taken in June 2023 after the Zamfara government accused the former governor and his cabinet of carting them away before the official handover.
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The state government had earlier issued a five-day ultimatum, followed by a court-backed enforcement.
More than 40 vehicles were recovered from Matawalle’s residence and those of his officials. His argument that the seizures violated his property rights was rejected by both the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court for lack of credible proof of ownership.
