Court Decides: Judgement on Matawalle’s Suit Against EFCC, ICPC Slated for August 30

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja has picked August 30, 2023, to rule on the case by Bello Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, has filed a lawsuit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Gistlover cites reports stating that the former governor of Zamfara State is attempting to halt an anti-graft agency investigation.

In the lawsuit, Mattawalle, who is currently a ministerial nominee for President Bola Tinubu, asked the court for a declaration regarding the rulings made by Justice Aminu Aliyu in the case FHC/GS/CS/30/2021 between the government of Zamfara and the EFCC and others on May 31, 2023.

The State Security Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses 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.

In regards to any money or funds that belong to the Zamfara State Government, Matawalle requested that the fourth Defendant not be given any authority or power to conduct an investigation, direct or cause to be directed, and prefer any charge against the Plaintiff, his family, associates, and contractors.

Furthermore, based on the ruling and Sections 4, 6, and 7 of Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Law No. 12, 2021, he asked the court to rule that no other body, besides the Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Commission, has the right or ability to look into any allegations of financial crimes or corrupt practices against him or his administration as governor of Zamfara State.

In an affidavit in support of the originating summon, Matawalle’s attorney, Kehinde Akinlolu (SAN), asserted that the defendants’ allegations against him of corrupt practices and the misappropriation of public funds of the Zamfara State, particularly those made by the 4th defendant, are completely false and designed to disqualify him from positions of authority and public trust.

As governor of Zamfara State, his client’s administration allegedly awarded all contracts after following the law, providing sufficient documentation, and maintaining accurate records.

In violation of the current Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Law and his constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair hearing, he claimed that if not restrained, the defendants will arrest, detain, and prosecute him.

In an oral application, the attorney for the fifth defendant, M. B. Kannap, stated that Immigration was authorized by section 31 of the Immigration Act 2015 to prevent the departure of any person who has not yet complied with a court’s order or who has been the subject of an arrest warrant.

In contrast, the first defendant’s attorney, O. M. K., asked the court to strike out the name SSS from the lawsuit.