Group criticize Vanguard’s report on banditry allegations against Matawalle

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Patriots for Peace and Social Development (PPSD) have expressed concern over a recent report by Saturday Vanguard, published on 28th September 2024, with the headline, “Banditry Allegation: Court okays suit to compel FG to probe ex-Gov Matawalle.”

The article, written by Ikechukwu Nnochiri, has been accused of lacking critical details, such as the specific court and judge involved in the matter, leading to accusations of sensationalism.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Executive Director of PPSD, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, described the headline as misleading and called on Vanguard to release the official court documents, including the court order, judge’s name, and other details of the proceedings.

According to Shinkafi, the suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has yet to be assigned to a judge, making the claim that the court “okayed” the suit inaccurate.

Shinkafi emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law, quoting Professor Kabir Danladi, who stated, “A case filed is not a case heard, and a case heard is not a case determined until the pronouncement of the court.”

He further highlighted the presumption of innocence enshrined in Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every defendant’s right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a fair hearing.

PPSD also criticized Vanguard for what it termed a “media trial,” accusing the newspaper of fueling political intrigues.

The statement suggested that political opponents of the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, have capitalized on the misleading report to tarnish his reputation. Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, has been linked to the ongoing investigations into banditry in the North West by security agencies, though PPSD remains confident that he will be exonerated from what they described as “frivolous” and “unfounded” allegations.

The group called on media bodies, including the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the National Media Complaints Commission, to investigate the sensational report and impose sanctions to deter the spread of fake news.

Meanwhile,PPSD urged Dr. Matawalle to remain focused on his duties, describing him as an “outstanding minister” and a loyal supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite efforts by political opponents to undermine his role in the government.