The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto has upheld the decision of the Federal High Court ordering the retrieval of over 40 government vehicles allegedly taken away by former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, after leaving office in 2023.
A three-member panel led by Justice A.M. Talba dismissed Matawalle’s appeal on August 8, 2025, ruling that he failed to prove ownership of the vehicles. The court further held that the cars were official assets belonging to the state, not private property, and therefore his claim of rights violation was unfounded.
The case originated in June 2023 when police operatives raided Matawalle’s residence following his alleged refusal to hand over government vehicles to his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal. Despite being given five days to return the assets, the vehicles were not surrendered, prompting the state government to obtain a court order for their recovery.
Police eventually seized more than 40 vehicles, but Matawalle approached the Federal High Court in Gusau, seeking both the release of the cars and enforcement of his fundamental rights. The matter was later transferred to the Federal High Court in Sokoto, which dismissed his claims in December 2023.
Unhappy with the verdict, Matawalle filed an appeal, but the appellate court has now affirmed that the state government acted lawfully.
The court also clarified that the police were within their powers to investigate allegations of misappropriation of public property and that Matawalle’s rights were not violated by the recovery process.
With this ruling, the vehicles remain the property of the Zamfara State Government.
