The Zamfara State Government claims to have recovered over 50 operable vehicles purportedly stolen by the state’s immediate previous governor, Bello Matawalle.
Sani Sambo, a spokesperson for Governor Dauda Lawal, told journalists on Thursday in Gusau that the move was taken in response to a decision by a Federal High Court in Sokoto last Friday.
He stated that due process was strictly followed in order to collect the vehicles from the former governor’s Gusau and Maradun mansions, who had denied having control of any government property as he was leaving office as governor.
Sambo stated that the Governor Dauda Lawal-led administration is doing everything possible to bring about the desired development in the state but not to witch hunt or project anyone in a bad light.
When Lawal took over power as governor of Zamfara on May 29, 2023, the controversy about stolen operational vehicles at the Government House Gusau and siphoning of public funds set in, and security agencies raided the two residences of Matawalle in Gusau and Maradun local governments where some vehicles were recovered.
The former governor quickly secured a court order restraining the state government from such action, pending the determination of the court’s decision on the matter.
According to the state government, the court in Sokoto dismissed the former governor’s suit against it.