The Federal High Court in Abuja has given the green light to a lawsuit aimed at compelling the Federal Government to investigate allegations linking the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, to banditry in Zamfara State.
The suit was filed by human rights activist Abubakar Dahiru, who is seeking a probe into Matawalle’s alleged involvement in bandit activities during his tenure as governor of Zamfara.
The case, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/1434/2024, names President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively. Dahiru, represented by his lawyer Ojonimi Apeh, is urging the court to declare that President Tinubu must instruct the IGP to investigate the activities of bandits and kidnappers in Zamfara State, with a specific focus on allegations against Matawalle.
The plaintiff argues that under Matawalle’s leadership as governor from 2019 to 2023, banditry in Zamfara escalated to unprecedented levels, resulting in widespread violence that left thousands of citizens displaced, orphaned, or widowed. Dahiru cited media reports and interviews accusing Matawalle of supporting bandits by allegedly providing vehicles to them, obstructing law enforcement, and granting amnesty to terrorists.
Despite these serious allegations, Dahiru contends that the government has not taken any steps to investigate Matawalle, while banditry continues to ravage the state.
