Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, asserts he won’t surrender 50 government vehicles, challenging Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State to pinpoint the court order mandating their retrieval.
Matawalle condemns the Zamfara State Government’s statement as misleading and fraudulent, claiming it misrepresents the Federal High Court’s judgment, which he deems a potential contempt of court.
In a statement released by Matawalle’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Dosara, on Wednesday, the minister insists that nowhere in the court’s ruling did it approve the invasion of the former governor’s residences.
He disputes the portrayal of the court endorsing the forceful entry into Gusau and Maradun residences to seize properties, including 50 vehicles donated to Matawalle and the then-presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign.
Bello Matawalle challenges Governor Lawal to produce any court documents explicitly ordering the retrieval of the contested vehicles.
He emphasizes that the Federal High Court, Sokoto Judicial Division, merely dismissed the case filed by the former governor after Matawalle’s voluntary withdrawal, influenced by advice from family, friends, political associates, and supporters.
This escalating dispute raises questions about the interpretation of the court’s judgment and the legality of reclaiming the vehicles.
As both parties trade accusations, the matter remains unresolved, adding a layer of complexity to the already intricate political landscape in Zamfara State.
