The former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to halt an investigation into him.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja set August 30, 2023, as the deadline for the court to rule on the case.
The State Security Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigerian Immigration Services, and the Attorney General of the Federation are the first through sixth defendants in the amended originating summons with the markings: FHC/ABJ/CS/753/2023.
Mattawalle requested a declaration from the court regarding the judgments rendered by Justice Aminu Aliyu on May 31, 2023, in Suit No: FHC/GS/CS/30/2021 between The government of Zamfara and the EFCC and others, the fourth Defendant, has no authority or power to conduct an investigation, direct or cause to be directed, any inquiry or investigation, and/or prefer any charge against the Plaintiff, his family, associates, and contractors to the Zamfar.
In accordance with the ruling and Sections 4, 6, and 7 of Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Law No. 12. 2021, he asked the court to rule that no other body, besides the Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Commission, has the right or ability to look into any alleged corrupt practices or financial crimes against him or his administration as the governor of Zamfara State.
The counsel for Matawalle, Kehinde Akinlolu, SAN, stated in an affidavit supporting the originating summon that the defendants’ allegations against him of corrupt practices and the misappropriation of public funds of the Zamfara State, particularly those made by the fourth defendant, are completely false and were designed to disqualify him from positions of authority and public trust.
He added that all contracts awarded by his administration as governor of Zamfara State were done so in accordance with the law, with proper documentation, and with good record-keeping.
He claimed that if not restrained, the defendants would arrest, detain, and charge him in violation of the current Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Law and his constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair trial.
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was the first defendant’s attorney. Aderohumu asked the court to remove the SSS name from the lawsuit, and M. K Hussein, the attorney for the fourth defendant, asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit because it was unconstitutional and without merit.
During the proceedings on Tuesday, neither the third defendant nor the sixth defendant’s attorney was present.
In an oral application, the attorney for the fifth defendant, M. B. Kannap, stated that Immigration was authorized by section 31 of the Immigration Act 2015 to prevent the departure of any person who has not yet complied with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction or who has an outstanding warrant of arrest issued against them.
Ahmed Mohammed, the presiding judge, postponed making a decision in this case until August 30.
“This case is reserved for judgment until August 30,” Mohammed said.
