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Former Zamfara State governorship candidate, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has alleged that certain politicians are attempting to discredit and remove the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, through a fabricated lawsuit at the Federal High Court. Shinkafi, in a statement released on Sunday, described the suit as a desperate effort to tarnish Matawalle’s reputation.
According to Shinkafi, the lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuses Matawalle of involvement in banditry. However, he questioned the legitimacy of the case, claiming that it lacks a judge’s assignment, casting doubt on its authenticity.
Shinkafi, who also serves as the Executive Director of Patriots for Peace and Social Development, asserted that the suit has neither been heard nor determined by the court. He cited Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which presumes that an individual is innocent until proven guilty.
He further explained that the lawsuit is part of a broader political plot aimed at damaging Matawalle’s image, possibly in hopes of seeing him removed during an expected cabinet reshuffle. “It is evident that the allegations and suit were fabricated by his political opponents, hoping he would be dropped in the proposed cabinet reshuffle,” Shinkafi said.
Shinkafi emphasized that Matawalle’s influence in Zamfara State politics, as well as his strong performance as a minister, has intimidated his rivals. He called for an investigation into the origin of the false reports and urged media regulatory bodies such as the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to impose sanctions on those responsible.
“A case filed is not a case heard, and a case heard is not a case determined until the pronouncement of the court. Every person charged with a criminal offense shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty,” Shinkafi noted.
He also pointed out that the Defence Headquarters and security agencies are currently investigating the sponsorship of banditry in the North West, reaffirming his belief that Matawalle will be exonerated.
Shinkafi called on the media to stop engaging in “media trials and propaganda” against public officials like Matawalle and encouraged the minister to stay focused on his work for a progressive and just Nigeria.
