Court of Appeal Upholds Seizure of Over 40 Vehicles from former Nigerian Governor 

Court of Appeal Upholds Seizure of Over 40 Vehicles from former Nigerian Governor 

The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court which dismissed former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle’s bid to reclaim over 40 official vehicles seized from his residence after he left office in May 2023.

A three-member panel led by Justice A.M. Talba, in a unanimous decision on August 8, 2025, ruled that the police acted lawfully in retrieving the vehicles following a complaint by the Zamfara State Government.

The court found that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence proving the vehicles were his personal property and dismissed his claims that his fundamental rights had been violated.

According to Zamfara government spokesperson Sulaiman Bala Idris, efforts to get Matawalle and his deputy to return the vehicles voluntarily in June 2023 were unsuccessful, prompting the government to obtain a court order. The subsequent police operation recovered more than 40 vehicles allegedly taken by the former governor and his cabinet members.

Matawalle had previously secured an order from the Federal High Court in Gusau for the vehicles to be returned, but the case was later transferred to the Sokoto division, which dismissed his claims in December 2023. The Appeal Court’s latest verdict affirms that the vehicles remain the property of the Zamfara State Government and clears the way for further investigation and possible prosecution.