In a decisive legal intervention, the Kano High Court has issued a restraining order against the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and several others, barring them from continuing a smear campaign against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Muhammed Matawalle. This temporary order will remain in place pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion in court.
The restraining order affects a wide range of respondents, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, the Government of Zamfara State, the Attorney General of the Federation, Vision Media Services Ltd, Vision FM, Farin Wata TV, Liberty Radio and TV, Shuaibu Mungadi, and Tijjani Ramalan. These entities and individuals were implicated in the ongoing case for their alleged role in a coordinated effort to tarnish Matawalle’s image.
Governor Dauda Lawal has faced accusations of visiting media houses to make unsubstantiated claims linking Matawalle to banditry and corruption. The court documents allege that these actions are part of a deliberate attempt to undermine Matawalle’s credibility ahead of a rumored cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
The smear campaign has reportedly aimed to diminish Matawalle’s rising political profile, not only in Zamfara State but across Nigeria. Supporters of Matawalle have described these actions as a desperate move by Governor Lawal to block Matawalle’s reappointment as a minister.
In its ruling, the court has specifically barred Governor Lawal and his associates, as well as media outlets such as Vision Media Services Ltd and Liberty Radio and TV, from further broadcasting or publishing defamatory content concerning Matawalle. The court emphasized that any information disseminated by Governor Lawal and his proxies should be treated with skepticism, urging the public to disregard such unverified claims.
The interim injunction also prevents the police and other security agencies from arresting or prosecuting Alhaji Masuda Abdulkadir, another key figure in the case. Furthermore, Vision Media Services Ltd and its executives have been instructed to cease airing or disseminating any content related to the ongoing matter until the court reaches a final