Sophia Michaels
Ex-governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, has broken silence after security operatives stormed his private houses to remove vehicles on Friday.
Matawalle who spoke to BBC Hausa service in an interview on Saturday morning accused the security agents of looting the personal belongings of his wives and children, including clothing materials.
He maintained that he was not issued with the copy of the court order which allowed the security agents to invade his houses as claimed by his successor, Dauda Lawal.
He described the action of the security agents as a breach of his fundamental rights, especially the right of privacy.
Matawalle explained that majority of the vehicles taken away by the security agencies from his two houses in Gusau and Maradun were procured by him before he became a governor.
He also alleged that the security agents went beyond vehicle recovery and picked up valuables and belongings of his wives and family members.
He also alleged that the security operatives moved away the matrimonial facilities he secured for the scheduled wedding of his daughters.
Reacting to the claim by the security agents that 40 vehicles were recovered from his houses, Matawalle said, “The security agents should display the 40 vehicles for the public judgment. Anybody who knows Bello Matawalle will believe that I have been in car business ever since I became the governor of Zamfara State.”
I have been in car business for a long period of time and most of the vehicles the security personnel impounded from my two houses are those that I bought from America long before I became a governor.
“The vehicles they impounded at Maradun were those donated to me by well-wishers and were all branded with my images and that of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But surprisingly, they said that the vehicles belong to the state government.”
He expressed disgust over the action, saying, “I have never seen the worst scenario like what happened in my residences last Friday.”
The former governor said he was in Abuja and nobody called to notify him that his attention was needed in relation to the issue. “But all I heard was that the security agents invaded my private residences as if there is no law and order in Nigeria,” he lamented.
He described the incident as a complete drama and lack of the fear of God. He said it was beyond the recovery of vehicles, adding that, “The security agents went as far as impounding some items belonging to my family.”
He charged his successor to face the problems affecting the state. “He should not create another problem by fighting me since he knows that I also have supporters who will not fold their hands and allow me to be humiliated,” he added.
Matawalle said he would not ask the security agents or the state government to return the vehicles, concluding, ‘I will however follow an appropriate channel as stipulated by the law.”
