By Abubakar Yunusa
The Northern Youth Development Association of Nigeria has refuted recent reports suggesting that Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, has been taken to court over alleged links to banditry.
According to a statement released by the association’s National Secretary, Abdukadir Yusuf, the claims are baseless and misleading.
Earlier media reports had claimed that a Federal High Court in Abuja had sanctioned a case brought by human rights activist Abubakar Dahiru, seeking an investigation into Matawalle’s purported involvement in bandit operations during his tenure as Zamfara State governor.
However, the youth association firmly rejected these allegations, stating that a thorough investigation of Federal High Courts in the nation’s capital found no evidence of such a suit. .
The group emphasized that even if such a case existed, Matawalle would willingly defend himself, accusing Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of orchestrating a political campaign to tarnish the former governor’s reputation.
The statement further highlighted that Matawalle had made significant efforts to combat banditry during his time in office, including launching military operations and allocating substantial funds toward security measures.
The association also reminded the public of Matawalle’s declaration in a recent interview, where he swore by the Holy Quran that he had never sponsored banditry, labelling the accusations as a malicious political ploy by Governor Lawal.
Governor Lawal has repeatedly accused his predecessor of “sponsoring banditry” and “harbouring terrorists at the government house.”
The association condemned these allegations, describing them as part of a broader strategy by Governor Lawal to discredit Matawalle and block his reappointment amid news of an impending cabinet reshuffle.
The youth group urged the public to disregard the defamatory reports, stressing that Governor Lawal’s actions reflect a personal vendetta rather than credible accusations.
The association reassured that Matawalle, now holding a key position in the federal government, would not be undermined by what it described as politically motivated falsehoods.
Ithe Northern Youth Development Association called for accountability and truth, challenging those behind the accusations to provide concrete evidence to support their claims.
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