From Maiharaji Altine
The Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara state capital has given 48 hour-ultimatum to the security agents to return former Governor Matawalle’s impounded vehicles and other properties to the premises of the court.
The court has also ordered the security agents to produce a comprehensive list of all the items they have impounded from Matawalle’s residences.
Matawalle has filed a case at the court, challenging the Inspector General of Police, the Zamfara state Police commissioner, the Nigeria Security and civil Defence Corpse and the State’s Security Service for the evacuation of his vehicles and other domestic properties in his two residences in Gusau and Maradun.
In the suit number FHC/GS/CS/30/2023 filed by Counsel to Matawalle, N S Na’Ige Esq the court directed the respondents in the case filed by the former Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle to return all the vehicles and other items as well as a written inventory of the items removed and bring them under the custody of the court pending the determination of the applicant’s Substantive Originating Motion in the matter which comes up on the 28th of this month.
The court also gave an Order of Interim Injunction restraining the respondents comprising the Nigeria Police, the IGP, the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, the DSS and the NSCDC from taking any further step in connection with the matter and staying all action pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
Delivering the judgement on Thursday, the Presiding Judge, Justice Aminu Bappa Aminu directed that, all the impounded vehicles and other properties be returned to the premises of the court within 24 hours.
Justice Bappa said, “Upon listened to the submission of N.S. Nalge Esq. of Counsel to the Applicant and having gone through the processes filed, I accordingly make the following orders”:
“The Court, having given its ruling this 15th day of June, 2023 made an order, directing the Respondents, particularly the 1, 2, 3, 4th & 5th Respondents whose men and officers conducted a search on the private residences of the Applicant in Gusau and Maradun, Zamfara State on the 9th of June, 2013 to produce, within 48 hours upon service of this order on them, a comprehensive inventory of all the vehicles and other personal properties of the Applicant, and that of his family members removed from the said residences in Gusau and Maradun, on the said 9th of June 2023, for the court’s record”.
“The Court made an order, directing the respondents whether by themselves, or acting through their officers, men, operatives, agents, privies, or any person or group of persons howsoever described, to produce, within 48 hours upon service of this orders on them, all the vehicles and properties removed by men and officers of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4 & 5th respondents from the private residences of the Applicant in Gusau and Maradun, Zamfara State on the 9th of June, 2023, and to domicile them within the premises of this court, and under the control of the Deputy Chief Registrar, Federal High Court, Gusau Judicial Division, pending determination of the Applicant’s substantive Originating Motion in this matter”.
“An order of Interim Injunction is made restraining the Respondents from taking further steps in connection with the matter and staying all actions pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
“The Case is adjourned to 28th day of June, 2023”.
