A Federal High Court in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, issued a directive on Thursday, compelling the Nigeria Police, Department of State Service (DSS), and other security agencies involved in the seizure of approximately 40 vehicles and various items from the residences of the former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, to present them within a 48-hour timeframe.
This order comes as a result of the operations conducted by the police, DSS, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on June 9, during which they raided the former governor’s private residences in Gusau and Maradun, seizing vehicles and other possessions, as instructed by a lower court.
The state government subsequently announced in a press statement that 40 vehicles were recovered during the raid.
However, in a legal case identified as suit number FHC/GS/CS/30/2023, filed by Matawalle’s Counsel, NS Na’Ige, the Federal High Court, under the jurisdiction of Justice Aliyu Bappa, has ordered the respondents to return all the vehicles and other items, along with a written inventory detailing the confiscated items.
The court further instructed that these items be placed under the custody of the court until the determination of the applicant’s Substantive Originating Motion, scheduled for June 28.
Additionally, an interim injunction has been issued, prohibiting the respondents, which include the Nigeria Police, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, the DSS, and the NSCDC, from taking any further action in connection with this matter until the motion is heard and resolved.