Court Okays Suit to Force FG to Investigate Matawalle Over Banditry Allegations

The Federal High Court in Abuja has given the go-ahead for a suit seeking to compel the Federal Government to investigate alleged links between the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, and banditry operations in Zamfara State.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1434/2024, was brought by Abubakar Dahiru, a human rights activist based in Zamfara State. President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the Inspector General of Police were cited as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants, respectively.

Through his counsel, Mr. Ojonimi Apeh, the plaintiff urged the court to declare it necessary for President Tinubu to direct the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the activities of bandits and kidnappers in Zamfara State, particularly the allegations linking Matawalle, the former governor of the state, to these crimes. The goal of the investigation, according to the plaintiff, is to restore public safety in Zamfara State.

In his submission, the plaintiff requested an order mandating President Tinubu to instruct the IGP to probe Matawalle’s alleged involvement in the escalating violence, which has plagued Zamfara with banditry and kidnapping.

The plaintiff argued that under the provisions of Section 215(3) and (4) of the Nigerian Constitution, the President has the authority to direct law enforcement to ensure public safety and order, especially in regions like Zamfara, which have been severely affected by insecurity.

In his 22-paragraph statement of claim, the plaintiff noted that the wave of armed banditry in Zamfara became particularly severe during Matawalle’s governorship, from 2019 to 2023. He alleged that the situation had worsened, resulting in widespread loss of life and displacement, turning thousands of residents into orphans, widows, and homeless individuals.

The plaintiff referenced a televised interview with current Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal on September 18, 2024, during which Lawal publicly accused Matawalle of being involved with kidnappers and bandits. Further allegations were made in an online publication by Umoru Faruk Salifu in the *21st Century Chronicles* on September 22, 2024, where Matawalle was accused of sponsoring bandits, purchasing vehicles for them, and undermining efforts to combat banditry in northwestern Nigeria. Additionally, an article by Professor Abdussamad Umar Jibia detailed a series of allegations against the former governor.

The plaintiff expressed concern that, despite these serious allegations, no government action had been taken to investigate Matawalle. As a result, banditry and kidnapping continue unabated in Zamfara, further endangering the lives and livelihoods of its citizens.

The court has yet to announce a date for the hearing of the case.