The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has secured a court order restraining several media organisations from publishing reports linking him to terrorist groups.
The ex-Zamfara State governor, through his legal team, filed a suit at the Kano State High Court on Wednesday evening, challenging what he described as “false and damaging” publications.
In the suit marked Case No. 4, Matawalle named Sahara Reporters, Mikiya, Omoyele Sowore, and other media outlets as respondents.
The court granted a temporary injunction barring the organisations from releasing or circulating any reports relating to the allegations pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The legal action follows a wave of media reports alleging that the minister had links with certain terrorist elements, claims that have stirred controversy across the country.
The development came shortly after the replacement of the former Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, with General Christopher Musa, fueling further speculation in security and political circles.
In his application, Matawalle insisted that the allegations were baseless and lacked credible 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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