A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has reacted to a recent report claiming that a court has approved a suit seeking to compel the federal government to investigate former Governor Bello Matawalle.
According to the report, the Federal High Court in Abuja allegedly gave the green light for a lawsuit demanding that the Federal Government investigate Matawalle’s alleged connections to banditry in Zamfara State. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1434/2024, lists President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Inspector General of Police as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants respectively. The legal action is said to have been initiated by human rights activist Abubakar Dahiru.
In a statement released on Sunday, Shinkafi, a former aide to Matawalle, clarified the status of the case. He emphasized that while a suit has been filed at the Federal High Court, it has yet to be assigned to a judge, nor has it been mentioned, heard, or determined by the court. Shinkafi argued that it was misleading to claim that the court had “okayed” the suit when no legal proceedings had taken place.
Quoting Professor Kabir Danladi, Shinkafi stated, “A case filed is not a case heard, and a case heard is not a case determined until the court has pronounced its judgment. The presumption of innocence is applicable to all defendants.” He further referenced Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees that “every person charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
Shinkafi also noted that the constitution entitles every individual to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a competent court or tribunal, which must be independent and impartial. He argued that no such hearing had occurred in this case, and therefore, it was premature and inaccurate for the media to report that the court had approved the suit.
Moreover, Shinkafi criticized the media for presenting an incomplete and misleading narrative, pointing out that the report failed to provide critical details. “The story was incomplete since it did not publish the court proceedings or the enrolled court order where this suit was supposedly ‘okayed.’ It also did not mention the name of the judge, the court number, or the counsel representing the defendants,” he said.
Shinkafi urged the public and media outlets to refrain from sensationalism and instead ensure that due process is followed in legal matters, particularly when the integrity of individuals is at stake. He reiterated that the legal process surrounding the case must be allowed to run its course, without undue interference or distortion of facts.
In closing, Shinkafi stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting constitutional protections, including the presumption of innocence. He called on all parties involved to allow the judiciary to perform its role without undue pressure, reminding them that justice must be done—and seen to be done—fairly and transparently.