Saturday, September 28, 2024 -The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved a lawsuit seeking to compel the Federal Government to investigate the alleged connection between the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, and the activities of bandits in Zamfara State.
The suit, filed by Zamfara-based human
rights activist Abubakar Dahiru, names President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney
General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the Inspector General of
Police as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants, respectively.
The plaintiff, through his counsel
Mr. Ojonimi Apeh, is requesting the court to declare that President Tinubu
should direct the Inspector General of Police to investigate the banditry and
kidnapping crisis in Zamfara and specifically the alleged involvement of
Minister Bello Matawalle. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1434/2024, aims to secure
public safety in the region.
Dahiru is also seeking a court order
mandating President Tinubu to instruct the IGP to look into the allegations
against Matawalle, which include accusations of bandit sponsorship, vehicle
provision to bandits, and interference with law enforcement efforts.
The plaintiff outlined a series of
allegations, citing statements from Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal and
media reports that accuse Matawalle of direct involvement with banditry during
his tenure as governor from 2019 to 2023. He claimed that banditry and
kidnapping have led to severe suffering in Zamfara, including the loss of
lives, displacement of thousands, and widespread economic hardship.
Despite the gravity of the
accusations, the plaintiff argued that no government efforts have been made to
investigate Matawalle. He urged the court to mandate an official inquiry to
uncover the truth behind these claims.
The court has not yet set a date for
the case to be heard.
0 Comments