Concerned Citizens of Zamfara State have firmly rejected reports claiming that Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, has been taken to court over alleged banditry. These reports, which suggested that a Federal High Court in Abuja had approved a case against Matawalle filed by human rights activist Abubakar Dahiru, have been labeled as false and misleading.
In a statement signed by the group’s chairman, Yusuf Sani, and Secretary Dahiru Nasiru, they asserted that after conducting searches at several Federal High Courts in Abuja, no evidence of such a lawsuit exists. The group emphasized that if such a case were to exist, Matawalle would not hesitate to defend himself in court. They accused the current governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, of engaging in a political witch-hunt aimed at discrediting his predecessor.
Defense Against Allegations
The group challenged those making the accusations against Matawalle to provide concrete evidence to support their claims of his involvement in banditry. They highlighted that Matawalle, during his tenure as governor, had actively worked to combat banditry by establishing military operations and investing billions of naira in security efforts.
Matawalle himself had previously sworn on the Holy Quran, reiterating in a recent media interview that he never sponsored banditry and labeling the accusations as a malicious political ploy orchestrated by his successor. Governor Dauda Lawal has accused Matawalle of “sponsoring banditry” and “accommodating terrorists at the government house,” which the citizens’ group describes as part of a broader strategy by Lawal to tarnish Matawalle’s reputation and undermine his potential reappointment as a minister following the announcement of a cabinet reshuffle.
The statement from the Concerned Citizens of Zamfara State reflects their commitment to defending Matawalle’s reputation and addressing what they perceive as politically motivated attacks.