The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ibrahim Saminu Turaki.

  • BREAKING NEWS: FORMER JIGAWA STATE GOVERNOR RELEASED

    The former governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki has been released.

    The Federal High Court Abuja had earlier this morning ordered that the former governor be released Immediately.

    Turaki had filed a motion for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to be removed from the parties that will verify authenticity of the documents contained in the bail conditions. Counsel to the former governor, Regina Okitie-Eboh complained that the EFCC has been delaying the verification processes even as the whole conditions have been fully complied with.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted the motion in its entirety and ordered all parties to comply with immediate effect. Saminu Turaki has been remanded at the Kuje Prison Abuja for more than a week after he has met his bail conditions.

    It would be recalled that Justice Dimgba had on the18th of July upon the former governor’s re arraignment, agreed with most of the release conditions earlier set by Justice Yusuf Haliru of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The judge also cautioned the EFCC on the need to always observe the rule of law and stressed that there is a presumption of innocence for an accused until proven guilty and proceeded to grant Saminu Turaki bail. The case was subsequently adjourned to September 19th 2017 for commencement of trial.

    Saminu Turaki was arrested by EFCC on the 4th of July at a book launch in Abuja and remained in EFCC custody. On Thursday 13 July 2017, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal High Court Abuja admitted him to bail but the commission refused to release him even after he had fulfilled the bail conditions.

    Consequently, his lawyers proceeded to file contempt proceedings against the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu at the Federal High Court Abuja. The case was heard on Thursday, 20th July 2017 and adjourned to the 28th of September for commencement of trial.

  • Court remands ex-Jigawa gov, Turaki in Kuje prison

    Court remands ex-Jigawa gov, Turaki in Kuje prison

    …Arraigned on 32 count over alleged N36b fraud.

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja Tuesday ordered that former Governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki be remanded in Kuje prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    By the order given by Justice Nnamdi Dimba, Turaki is to remain in prison pending when he is able to meet the conditions attached to the bail granted him after he was arraigned, with three companies, on a 32-count charge, in which they were accused of laundering about N36billion

    Turaki, who was earlier granted bail on liberal terms on July 14 by the vacation judge of the High Court of the FCT, Justice Yusuf Halilu, was arraigned before the Federal High Court on Tuesday on a charge filed in 2007 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charge is marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/86/2007.

    The ex-Governor, who was rearrested by the EFCC on July 4 at a social function in Abuja, after jumping bail and allegedly evading arrest for about six years, was arraigned on Tuesday with three companies -INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd and Wildcat Construction Ltd.

    After the arraignment and the argument on the bail application made by defence lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), Justice Dimgba noted that in view of the bail earlier granted Turaki by the High Court of the FCT, he was minded to grant bail.

    He directed lawyers for the parties: Mohammed Abubakar for the EFCC and Raji for the defence, to agree on terms on which the Turaki could be granted bail.

    After a meeting between the lawyers, the reported the agreed terms to the court, which the judge partially adopted and granted Turaki bail at N500million, with two sureties at N250,000 each, who must either be businessmen or civil servants not below the level of a director and must own properties in FCT, including the satellite towns.

    The judge ordered to submit his travel documents to the court, and is to seek the court’s permission before travelling abroad. He is to report to the EFCC one in a month.

    Justice Dimgba directed the EFCC to liaise with the registrar of the court to verify whether or not Turaki meets the bail conditions, following which the EFCC is to send a letter to the court confirming verification.

    The judge said, should the EFCC fails to do that within 24 hours of the defence meeting bail, the defence can write to the court informing it that the EFCC did not write to verify.

    Justice Dimgba, who is the court’s current vacation judge in Abuja, adjourned further proceedings in the case to September 19, the date earlier chosen by the trial judge at the Federal High Court, Dutse, Jigawa State, where Turaki reportedly jumped bail about six years ago, following which a bench warrant was issued by the court for his arrest.

    The judge also said further proceedings in the case shall resume at the court’s Dutse division.

    Dressed in a white native attire (agbada and a cap), Turaki wore long face as he stepped off the dock, shortly after the judge’s pronouncement.

    Some of the counts in the charge read: “That you Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd, Wildcat Construction Ltd and Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed (now at large) on or about May 3, 2006 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court did collaborate in concealing the genuine nature of the sum of N8,004,000,000, which sum was diverted from an illegal act and you thereby committed  an offence punishable under section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004.

    “That you Ibrahim Saminu Turaki on or about 15th July 2006 at Abuja, did conspire with INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd, Wildcat Construction Ltd and Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed (now at large) to launder the sum of N5.200,000,000 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 17(a) of the Monet laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 and punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.

    “That you Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd, Wildcat Construction Ltd and Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed (now at large) on or about 3rd May 2006, did collaborate in concealing the genuine nature of the sum of $20,000,000 which sum was derived from an illegal act and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004.”

     

  • Court remands ex-Jigawa gov Turaki in Kuje prison

    Court remands ex-Jigawa gov Turaki in Kuje prison

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that former Governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki be remanded in Kuje prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
    By the order given by Justice Nnamdi Dimba, Turaki is to remain in prison pending when he is able to meet the conditions attached to the bail granted him follwoing his arraignment on a 32-count charge.
    Turaki, who was earlier granted bail on liberal terms on July 14 by the vacation judge of the High Court of the FCT, Justice Yusuf Halilu, was arraigned before the Federal High Court on Tuesday on a the charge filed in 2007 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    The ex-Governor, who was rearrested by the EFCC on July 4 at a social function in Abuja, after jumping bail and allegedly evading arrest for about six years, was arraigned on Tuesday with three companies INC Natural Resources Ltd, Arkel Construction Nigeria Ltd and Wildcat Construction Ltd.
    Turaki was granted bail at N500million, with two sureties at N250,000 each.
    He is to submit his travel documents to the court, and is to seek the court’s permission before travelling abroad. He is to report to the EFCC one in a month.
    Details later
  • Alleged fraud: Ex-Jigawa governor Turaki granted bail

    Alleged fraud: Ex-Jigawa governor Turaki granted bail

    The vacation judge at the High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja, Justice Yusuf Halilu, on Thursday granted bail to former Jigawa State Governor, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki.

    Turaki was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on July 4.

    According to the EFCC, Turaki, whose 32-count charge of fraud was pending before the Federal High Court in Jigawa State, jumped bail about six years ago, but was rearrested at a function in Abuja through intelligent sources.

    Justice Halilu ruled on a bail application filed by Turaki after taking arguments from his lawyer, Olukayode Jolaawu and Mohammed Abubakar for the EFCC.

    Although the judge frowned at Turaki’s conduct of jumping bail, he said the constitution allows bail for a person suspected to have committed an offence, but presumed innocent until his/her guilt was established.

    Justice Halilu said: “Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered, presumed an accused person, suspected to have committed an offence, innocent until his guilt is established before a court of law.

    “The arrest and detention of the applicant, I must observe, was pursuant to my brother’s order of the Federal High Court, which was made after the applicant (Turaki) refused to show up at the Federal High Court, Jigawa, to stand trial.

    “Permit me to observe that laws must be respected, and obediently so. The question I ask now is, why has the applicant chosen to come and drink from the pot of equity in this court? Was it not the same court he refused to attend?

    “Counsel representing people charged for commission of offences must learn to frown at the conduct of such people, if not, it will spell doom and a very huge danger to our dear country, Nigeria. It is our country and the laws are meant to regulate our conduct.

    “If morality cannot be regulated, then behaviour can be regulated.  The law may not change the heart, but it can regulate the heartless. Bail is fundamental with human rights. It usually shall be granted on terms.”

    He granted bail to Turaki and ordered him to deposit all his travel documents with the court registrar.

    The judge said the ex-governor must provide two sureties, who must be responsible residents of the FCT, with verifiable means of livelihood.