A pro-democracy group, The Patriots for Peace and Social Development (PPSD) yesterday said it is alarmed by a sensational report in a national newspaper (not LEADERSHIP) on a court case and the minister of state for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle.
The group, in a statement by the executive director Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, claimed that the story entitled “Banditry Allegation: Court okays suit to compel FG to probe ex-Gov Matawalle”and published last month, was intended to thwart the Mattawalle’s retention as a cabinet member ahead of the anticipated cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu.
Shinkafi said they initially ignored the “sensational headline” as a deliberate fake news calculated to mislead the public on national security by the newspaper.
He however said the allegations and suit were sponsored by Mattawalle’s political opponents in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who are hoping he would be dropped in the proposed cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu on Independence Day.
Shinkafi said he has no doubt President Tinubu is aware of the political intrigues and would not sacrifice his outstanding minister for his opponents’ inordinate political ambition that stagnated the nation from 1999 to 2015 when PDP was in power.
“More importantly, Matawalle’s towering influence in Zamfara State politics is astonishing, hence the plot to pull him down by all means. It is time to stop media trial and propaganda against highly esteemed public office holders like Matawalle,” it added.
He said the suit was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, and it has not been assigned to any judge, not mentioned, heard, and determined by the court. He added it was wrong for the newspaper to publish that the court has okayed the suit.
He cited Professor Kabir Danladi, who according to Shinkafi, said that a case filed is not a case heard, and a case heard is not a case determined until the pronouncement of the court. The presumption of innocence is applicable to all defendants.
“Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides that every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. In the determination of his civil rights and obligations including any question or determination by or against any government or authority a person shall be entitled to fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such a manner as to secure its independence and impartiality,” Shinkafi said in his statement.
He said the newspaper gave a misleading headline which political opponents of the minister of state capitalised on to spread fake news and falsehood.
He challenged the newspaper to publish the court proceedings and enrolled court order where the suit was ‘okay,’ the name of the judge, court number, and defendants’ counsel.
“We urge the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Guide of Editors, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and media ombudsman, National Media Complaint Commission to thoroughly investigate this sensational headline and impose appropriate sanction as a deterrent against fake news.
“Already, the Defence Headquarters and other security agencies are investigating the sponsors of banditry in the North West. We have no doubt that the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle will be exonerated from these obvious frivolous, spurious, unfounded and wide allegations by failed politicians who are intimidated by his rising profile as an outstanding minister of the Federal Republic and loyalist of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement said.
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