Concerned Citizens of Zamfara State have dismissed recent reports that claimed Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, has been taken to court over allegations of involvement in banditry. The group described these claims as misleading and untrue, stating that no such case exists against the former governor.
Earlier, several media outlets reported that a Federal High Court in Abuja had allegedly approved a lawsuit filed by human rights activist, Abubakar Dahiru, seeking to investigate Matawalle’s alleged involvement with bandit groups during his time as the governor of Zamfara State. The reports created widespread discussion, but the Concerned Citizens group has strongly refuted them.
In a statement released yesterday, signed by the group’s chairman, Yusuf Sani, and Secretary, Dahiru Nasiru, they clarified that after investigating the claim, they found no record of any such court case. The group stated that they had visited several Federal High Courts in Abuja, but found no evidence to support the claim that Matawalle had been sued. They insisted that the reports are false and part of an ongoing political agenda to tarnish the reputation of the Minister.
“It’s worth noting that Matawalle, the former Governor of Zamfara State, had previously taken steps to address the banditry issue, including establishing military operations and spending billions of naira on security.
“He had even gone a step further swearing with the Holy Quran, as he pointed out in a recent media interview, that he never sponsored banditry and that this is nothing but a wicked political witch-hunt being sponsored by his successor.
“Recall that Governor Dauda Lawal had accused his predecessor of ‘sponsoring banditry’ and ‘accommodating the terrorist at the government house’.
“These are parts of the gimmicks of Governor Lawal Dauda who has been a continuous guest to media houses to tarnish the image of the Minister of State for Defence and also to block his re- appointment as a Minister since the news of cabinet reshuffle became public.
“We are reliably informed that Governor Dauda is the one sponsoring the forum shopping for a court order which has a stringent processes to be followed before it is granted. The courts cannot be deceived or induced by Governor Dauda or his proxies. This name dropping of the court is absurd, preposterous and naive for a person of his status trying to run down his own brother who is holding a sensitive post in the government.
“The public should be wary of deceitful information emanating from the Governor of Zamfara or his proxies and are advised to disregard such publication,” the statement reads.”
