Tunji Wusu –
The Federal High Court in Abuja has set August 30, 2023, for the delivery of judgment in the case brought by Bello Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, to halt an investigation into him.
The date for the lawsuit’s verdict was set by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Matawalle maintained that every contract his administration approved was given after a fair hearing and was fully documented.
The State Security Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Immigration Services, and the Attorney General of the Federation are listed as the first through sixth defendants in the amended originating summons with the marking: FHC/ABJ/CS/753/2023.
Mattawalle, a president Bola Tinubu-appointed minister, requested a declaration from the court regarding the judgments rendered by Justice Aminu Aliyu on May 31, 2023 in Suit No. FHC/GS/CS/30/2021 between the government of Zamfara and the EFCC and others, claiming that the fourth defendant lacks the legal right or authority to conduct an investigation, direct or cause to be directed, any inquiry or investigation, and/or prefer any charges against the plaintiff,
He asked the court to rule that any body other than the Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Commission has no authority or power to investigate any alleged corrupt practices or financial crimes against him or his administration as the governor of Zamfara State, based on the ruling and sections 4, 6, and 7 of the Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Law No. 12, 2021.
Kehinde Akinlolu (SAN), Matawalle’s attorney, stated in an affidavit supporting the originating summon that the defendants’ claims that he engaged in corrupt practices and diverted public funds from the Zamfara State against them are entirely false and designed to disqualify him from positions of authority and public trust, particularly those made by the 4th defendant.
He said that all contracts awarded by his government as governor of Zamfara State were done so in accordance with the law, with correct documentation, and with good record-keeping.
In violation of the current Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Law and his constitutionally granted right to a fair hearing, he claimed that the defendants will arrest, jail, and prosecute him if they are not prohibited from doing so.
O.A. Aderohumu, the first defendant’s attorney, requested that the SSS name be removed from the lawsuit, while M. K. Hussein, the fourth defendant’s attorney, requested that the lawsuit be dismissed because it was unconstitutional and without merit.
The third and sixth defendants’ attorneys were not present throughout the sessions on Tuesday.
In an oral application, the attorney for the fifth defendant, M. B. Kannap, stated that section 31 of the Immigration Act 2015 gave Immigration the authority to prevent the departure of anyone who has not yet complied with a court’s order or who has been the subject of an arrest warrant.
Ahmed Mohammed, the presiding judge, postponed making a decision in this case until August 30.
