Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle blocks media outlets from further linking him with bandits

Overwhelmed by media publications linking the Minister of State for Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle with the marauding bandits, he has secured Court order on Friday barring media house from further publishing reports linking him with bandits or terrorists.

The media has been awash with reports, features and analysis linking Matawalle as bandits sympathizer, given his previous statement which he said, “Not all bandits are criminals, some became bandits because of the way security agents maltreatment them.”

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Matawalle whose senior Minister of Defence, Mohammed Umar Badaru resigned last month leading to the appointment of General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has been under the media pressure to resign from office on allegations of his connection with bandits in Zamfara and other North West States.

His legal team however filed a suit at the Kano State High Court on Wednesday evening, challenging what he described as “false and damaging” publications.

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In the suit marked Case No. 4, Matawalle named Sahara Reporters, Mikiya, Omoyele Sowore, and other media outlets as respondents.

Matawalle got judgment in his favour and a temporary injunction has been slammed on media organisations, particularly Saharareporters, restraining them from publishing reports relating to allegations pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Matawalle insisted on his innocence and described several allegatins against him as baseless and vindictive without evidence.

“These reports are misleading and capable of causing irreparable harm to my personal and public reputation,” he said in the court filings.

The minister’s lawyers argued that continued publication of such stories could misinform Nigerians and incite public distrust against a key member of the Federal Executive Council.

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