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  • Benue mass killings: Court remands terror suspects in Kuje Prison

    Benue mass killings: Court remands terror suspects in Kuje Prison

    A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered the remand of nine terror suspects in Kuje Prison.

    The court gave the order shortly after the suspects were arraigned for their alleged involvement in the June 13, 2025 violent attacks in Yelwata Community in Benue State. About 150 people died and many properties were destroyed during the attack.

    The suspects are: Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin.

    In a ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered that the nine suspects be remanded in Kuje Prison pending the determination of their bail applications.

    The judge adjourned till February 26.

    During their arraignment, the nine defendants pleaded not guilty to a 57-count charge bordering on terrorism-related offences brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF).

    Shortly after the defendants pleaded to the charge, the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led the prosecuting team, applied for a date for the prosecution to open its case.

    Fagbemi averred that in line with Section 273 of ACJA (the Administration of Criminal Justice Act), 2015, and following the plea of the defendants, it meant that they had invoked the jurisdiction of the court for trial.

    Read Also: Judge sends Bello to Kuje Prison, adjourns till Jan 29

    The AGF urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing on the case in view of its nature.

    When the judge asked about the number of witnesses the prosecution planned to call, Fagbemi said: “For now, we have about eight witnesses.”

    Justice Abdulmalik rejected the move by the lawyer to the first, eighth, and ninth defendants, Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), to apply orally for bail for his clients.

    She insisted that the defendants must file formal bail applications, adding: “The practice of this court is that you file a formal bail application.”

    At the commencement of proceedings, Fagbemi told the court that the prosecution had filed an amended and that the name of the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamah, should be deleted as a defendant on the charge.

    Fagbemi also applied that the initial charge, dated September 9, last year, but filed September 10, last year, in which eight defendants were listed, be replaced with the amended charge, dated January 19 but filed on January 20.

    Angulu and other defence lawyers – A. I. Kaura and Adamu Abdullahi – did not oppose Fagbemi’s application.

    This prompted Justice Abdulmalik to strike out the old charge and announce the striking out of Mamah’s name from the charge.

    In count one of the charge, the defendants and others still at large, were alleged to have, sometime between May and June 2025, in Nasarawa State, knowingly and directly participated in meetings in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism.

    They were said to have planned the attack on the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, and subsequently carried it out June 13, last year, resulting in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of about 150 persons.

    The offence is said to violate Section 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and is punishable under the same section.

    In count six, Dono was alleged to have “knowingly recruited persons from Kwara State, Taraba State, Giza, and other surrounding villages in Nasarawa State to participate in the commission of an act of terrorism, that is, to attack Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the attack which was subsequently carried out on June 13, last year, and resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons in Yelwata.”

    Dono was, in count 16, alleged to have engaged in preparations to commit an act of terrorism by coordinating the acquisition of weapons, logistics, manpower, and information used to execute the attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the attack which was subsequently carried out on the 13th day of June 2025, and resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons in Yelwata.

    In count 25, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono (first defendant) was alleged to have, between May and June last year in Nasarawa State, “instigated and instructed other Ardos and all Fulani youths in Nasarawa State, Kwara State, Taraba State, Giza, and other surrounding villages to carry out attack on Yelwata Community” on June 13, 2025, where at least 150 persons died.

    The offence is said to violate Section 26(2)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and is punishable under the same Act.

  • Yelwata killings: Court remands terror suspects in Kuje prison

    Yelwata killings: Court remands terror suspects in Kuje prison

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of nine terror suspects in Kuje prison shortly after they were arraigned over their alleged involvement in the June 13, 2025, violent attacks in Yelwata Community in Benue, in which about 150 persons died, and property was destroyed.

    They are: Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin.

    Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a ruling, ordered that the nine remain in Kuje prison pending the determination of their bail applications and adjourned till February 26.

    During their arraignment, the nine defendants pleaded not guilty to a 57-count charge, bordering on terrorism related offences, brought against them by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    Shortly after the defendants pleaded to the charge, the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led the prosecuting team, applied for a date for the prosecution to open its case.

    Fagbemi said, in line with Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and following the plea of the defendants, it means they have invoked the jurisdiction of the court for trial.

    The AGF urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing in view of the nature of the case

    When asked by the judge about the number of witnesses the prosecution plans to call, Fagbemi said, “For now, we have about eight witnesses.”

    Justice Abdulmalik rejected the move by the lawyer to the first, eighth, and ninth defendants, Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), to apply for bail orally for his clients.

    She insisted that the defendants must file formal bail applications, stressing that “The practice of this court is that you file a formal bail application.”

    At the commencement of proceedings, Fagbemi told the court that the prosecution had filed an amended and sought to add the name of the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamah, as a defendant on the charge.

    Fagbemi also applied that the initial charge, dated September 9, 2025, but filed September 10, 2025, in which eight defendants were listed, be replaced with the amended charge, dated January 19 but filed January 20.

    Angulu and other defence lawyers – A. I. Kaura and Adamu Abdullahi – did not oppose Fagbemi’s application, following which Justice Abdulmalik struck out the old charge and announced the striking out of Mamah’s name from the charge.

    In count one of the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, the defendants and others still at large were alleged to have, sometime between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, knowingly and directly participated in meetings in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism.

    They were said to have planned the attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue, and subsequently carried it out on June 13, 2025, resulting in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons.

    Read Also: Yelwata killings: Number of displaced persons in Nasarawa rises to 4,253 — NASEMA

    The offence is said to be contrary to Section 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under the same section.

    In count six, Dono was alleged to have “knowingly recruited persons from Kwara State, Taraba State, Giza, and other surrounding villages in Nasarawa State to participate in the commission of an act of terrorism i.e. to attack Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the attack which was subsequently carried out on the 13th day of June 2025, and resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons in Yelwata.”

    Dono was, in count 16 alleged to have engaged in preparations to commit an act of terrorism by coordinating the acquisition of weapons, logistics, manpower, and information used to execute the attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the attack which was subsequently carried out on the 13th day of June 2025, and resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons in Yelwata.

    In count 25, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono (1st defendant) was alleged to have, between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, “instigated and instructed other Ardos and all Fulani youths in Nasarawa State, Kwara State, Taraba State, Giza, and other surrounding villages to carry out attack on Yelwata Community” on June 13, 2025, where at least 150 persons died.

    The offence is said to be contrary to Section 26(2)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under the same Act.

  • Normalcy returns to Kuje after violent clash

    Normalcy returns to Kuje after violent clash

    A tense calm has settled over Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, following a violent clash, on Friday, after an accidental discharge from a police officer’s firearm claimed a life.

    A visit to the area, on Saturday, by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that residents had resumed their daily activities even as the Friday debacle left a trail of shock and unease among the local population.

    Eyewitnesses recounted that around 7 p.m., an argument broke out between two men who had just exited a supermarket, near the Tipper Garage area, which quickly escalated, drawing the attention of bystanders.

    Bulus Ayuba, who witnessed the incident, explained that a police officer attached to the supermarket attempted to mediate but struggled to de-escalate the situation as a crowd gathered.

    Read Also: Judge sends Bello to Kuje Prison, adjourns till Jan 29

    When the argument became heated and the crowd grew, the officer, in an attempt to disperse them, fired a warning shot into the air, Ayuba said. Someone in the crowd allegedly made contact with the officer’s firearm, causing him to misfire and hit a man in the head.

    The victim was immediately taken away, but the situation spiraled out of control as enraged youths launched a protest. In the ensuing chaos, a vehicle parked near the supermarket was set ablaze.

    Another eyewitness, Philip Adeyeye, described the scene as one of panic and unrest, with tensions running high until security reinforcements, including military personnel and additional police units, arrived to restore order.

    Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Olatunji Disu, stated that the officer involved had been taken into custody and that a full investigation was underway to determine the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting.

  • Kuje prison attacked during soldiers’ rotation, COAS confirms

    Kuje prison attacked during soldiers’ rotation, COAS confirms

    • ‘Prison lacks CCTV’

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday confirmed that the Julu 5, 2022 Kuje prison break happened as soldiers on duty were being rotated.

    Recall that terrorists broke into the facility and freed hundreds of inmates, including Boko Haram members.

    Gen. Lagbaja spoke during a one-day investigative hearing on two motions, ‘Decongestion of Correctional Centres in Nigeria’ and ‘Call on the Nigerian Correctional Service to account for Inmates that escaped from Kuje custodial facility’.

    The hearing was organised by the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Reformatory Institutions, Justice, Police Affairs, Interior and Human Rights.

    Read Also: Soldiers killing: No one left in community, says governor

    Gen. Lagbaja, who was represented by the Assistant Director (Commercial Law), Directorate of Nigerian Army Legal Services, Maj. Peter Ogbuinya, said the situation did not call for blame trading but should be aimed at getting a possible solution and forestalling a similar occurrence.

    He said: “The Army are plays a complementary role to the correctional centre by virtue of provision of guards to assist the correctional centre. However in the Kuje Correctional Centre, the Army is not the only security agency that is deployed there. Unfortunately the attack happened during the rotation of troops. I wouldn’t want to comment on the possibility or otherwise of having an insider, looking at the time it happened.”

    Maj. Peter said soldiers deployed at the time were still being probed and if found culpable, would be appropriately punished.

    “On our own side, the troops that we deployed are under investigation and the military hierarchy is working on possibly finding out if any of them failed to do what they were expected to do. But, as it is, it is still within the military hierarchy and courts to look at the matter critically to know if the soldiers that were deployed had done the needful,” he addd.

    He also noted that prior to the jail break, the Army had written series of letters to the Deputy Controller General concerning some of the security observations about the facility.

    “We know that the Deputy Controller General is doing is everything possible to see that most of the equipment that would enhance the security is provided. However it was still in the process when the incident happened. One of those things was the issue of lighting. During the period, we noticed there was no lighting within the general area. It’s not as if it was deliberate. Efforts were being made to see if we could find solutions to some of these challenges.

    “We also observed that the area housing Kuje Prison is more of a built up area and that gives room for serious security challenge where lots of civilians live within the prison environment.

    “These are some of the challenges the environment created. We also observed issues of low fencing and absence of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras within the general area. These are some of the things that we observed and these things were unable to be put in place before the incident. I want to believe that these things would have assisted the guards.”

    Meanwhile, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service NCS, Haliru Nababa, stressed the need for a decongestion of the correctional facilities. According to him, Nigeria has an inmate population of 78,519 against the 64,192 capacity of correctional centres.

    Nababa, who was represented by the Deputy Comtroller-General (Training and Staff Development), Tukur Ahmad, said: “The decongestion of custodial centres has become the concern of all, partly due to the unending challenges it causes to the criminal justice system in Nigeria. Efforts are on by the Federal Government to cut cost of feeding which often runs into billions of naira annually.

    “The NCOS maintains 265 custodial centres across the country, with a total capacity of 64,192 against the total inmate population of 78,519 as at March 18, 2024. Of this actual inmate population, 70 per cent represents persons on awaiting trial.”

    Ahmad added that to achieve speedy decongestion of centres, the 3,000-capacity new custodial centres being built across the six geopolitical zones must be completed. He also said the Service needed more funding.

    Mrs. Ayoola Daniel, a representative of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said the ministry supports decongesting correctional centres in the country.

    She noted that the correctional service had been moved from the exclusive to concurrent list, adding that states were expected to take up the responsibility of decongesting the centres.

    The Assistant Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Philip Ayuba, urged the committee to look into the possibility of engaging members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to provide legal services to prisoners.

    “We still have so many young men in prison; we are requesting that NYSC lawyers be sent to prison to look at some of the minor cases so that we can decongest the prison,” he added.

    Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, hailed the Committees for their joint efforts on the fact-finding mission. He said the ultimate objective of the hearing is to examine the activities of the correctional service in order to promote accountability, transparency and responsiveness in the running of the agency for enhanced service delivery, contribute significantly to the overall progress and development of our country.

  • Sisters ‘caught smuggling Indian hemp, Tramadol into Kuje Prison’

    Officers of Kuje Medium Security Prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested a female visitor to the prison for allegedly attempting to smuggle substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Tramadol into the prison yard.

    Miss Blessing Chinwuba was alleged to have concealed the prohibited items in a carton of neatly packed Indomie wraps.

    A statement by the FCT Prison Command spokesman Chukwuedo Humphrey alleged that Chinwuba was nabbed by prison officers at the gate lodge before she could pass the items to Mr. John Ifeanyichukwu, a prisoner.

    During investigation, she claimed that the consignment was given to her by Miss Victoria Chinwuba, her younger sister, to deliver, claiming ignorance of the contents.

    Humphrey said although the statement was corroborated by Victoria, the younger Chinwuba, she equally claimed ignorance of the contents of the carton, as she was merely asked to collect the item from a courier service provider.

    The two suspects have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.

    The Controller of Prisons, FCT Command, Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche, hailed the workers for a job well done and warned that stiffer punishment awaited anyone caught compromising security in and around the prison.

  • Minister raises the alarm over Boko Haram, high profile inmates in Kuje prison

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau (rtd), has expressed worries over the rate at with Boko Haram and dangerous inmates are kept in the same prison facility in Kuje, Abuja.

    Danbazau disclosed that government is urgently building new prisons to relocate the high profile inmates.

    He said this in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello.

    Danbazau also urged the FCT administration to have a closer look at the small markets springing up around the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the FCT, saying some of them have been turned to platforms for sale of dangerous and prohibited drugs.

    According to him: “We have received approval to build maximum and minimum prisons in Abuja as well as renovate and reconstruct existing facilities.

    “It’s very important that we build because Kuje houses all manner of convicts and those awaiting trial.

    “We have suspected Boko Haram persons, we have very dangerous criminals awaiting trial all in the same place.

    “We have high profile convicts in the same place and we have those who committed offences that should keep them in prison for probably six months.”

    He went on: “We have all kinds of mix which we think is not the standard we should achieve.

    “Some of them will claim they are IDPs from the Northeast; of course, there is need for us to accommodate these displaced persons but we have to do it in a way that it does not have negative consequences on security.

    “I thought I should seize this opportunity to bring it up so that we can put heads together and know precisely how to deal with the situation.”

    Speaking on the Old Secretariat building housing his ministry, Danbazzau said the Ministry is looking for a befitting area to erect a new secretariat that would reflect its image and importance.

     

  • Minister visits Kuje prison to forestall more jailbreaks

    Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdul-rahman Dambazau last week paid an unscheduled visit to Kuje prison, it was learnt yesterday.

    The visit was in connection with the jailbreak in Minna prison on June 3.

    Gunmen had attacked the Minna Medium Security Prison in Kafin-Tella B, Tunga Local Government Area of Niger State where a prison officer and motorcyclist were killed around 8pm.

    The visit, according to a top source at the Ministry of Interior, was meant to be secret for a check around the prison and ensure everybody deployed to the facility is not taking things for granted.

    The source, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that Dambazau is worried about the incessant jailbreaks across the nation forcing him to hurriedly visit the Kuje prison.

    The minister, according to reports, spent almost three hours going round all the sections and listening to complaints from the officer-in-charge of Kuje prison.

    He advised armed security operatives deployed to secure the prison to be alert and not compromise no matter the situation.

    Heads may roll, the source said, if after receiving the Minna jailbreak investigation report and any officer is found wanting.  The source added: “How would the authority explain this? Is it that there is no tight security?

    “I am sure more people will dance to the music when proper investigation is concluded. Government will not let this issue go without proper investigation and adequate punishment.

    “The prison boss has been ordered from above to carry out a proper investigation and aside that another investigation is ongoing that is not known to the prison authorities.

    “The Minister of Interior is concerned about this and would not allow this act to continue.”

    The source added:  “That is why the sudden visit to Kuje prison is not made public. Every measure to ensure adequate security is not supposed to be made public.

    “Government, I can tell you, will not rest on its oars in ensuring that no gun men will have free day invading prison facilities across the country.”

    In 2014, former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, ordered the immediate removal and suspension of the Niger State Controller of Prisons, Musa Maiyaki and officer-in-charge-ACP Mohammed Bena, following the jailbreak at the Minna Medium Security Prisons.

    Almost four years on, jailbreaks have remained a major challenge of the Nigerian Prisons Services.

    The Nigerian Prison Service, Public Relations Officer, Francis Enobore, when contacted confirmed the minister’s visit to Kuje prison adding that it was due to the jailbreak in Minna.

    Enobore said several reforms are ongoing to further put a stop to jailbreaks in the country.

    The NPC Comptroller General, Ja’faru Ahmed, accompanied the minister on the fact- finding visit.

     

  • IPOB: FG commences separate trial of Kanu’s co-defendants

    The Federal Government Tuesday commenced the trial of four men earlier charged with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu on offence of treasonable felony.

    The four, some of who are IPOB members – Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwidiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi – were yesterday arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja on a three-count amended charge.

    Upon request by parties, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako agreed to a separate trial of the four owing to the sudden disappearance of Kanu, who was earlier listed as first defendant in the old charge.

    At their arraignment yesterday, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the amended charge, following which the prosecution lawyer, Shuiabu Labaran sought a brief adjournment to enable him open his case.

    Defence lawyers objected to a brief adjournment. The lawyers said they were served with the amended charge the previous day and required sufficient time to consult with their clients.

    They also sought the transfer of the clients from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to Kuje prison, Abuja.

    Ruling, Justice Nyako allowed the defence lawyers one hour to discuss with the clients in court. She said the trial will not be secret one as being misinterpreted, but that it was only the identity of witnesses that will be protected from the public.

    The judge adjourned to Thursday for the prosecution to open its case.

    The three counts, to which Chimezie, Onwidiwe, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi pleaded, read:

    “That you, Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwidiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Nnamdi Kanu (at large),  in 2014 and 2015, in Nigeria and London, conspired to broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of the court, for states in the South-East and South-South zones, and other communities in Kogi and Benue states, to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constitute same into a Republic of Biafra, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C77 of 2004.

    “That you, Bright Chimezie and one Nnamdi Kanu, now at large, between March and April, 2015, imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of the court, a radio transmitter known as TRAM 50L, concealed in a container of used household items, which you declared as used household items, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47 (2) (a) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C77 of 2004.

    “That you, Benjamin Madubugwu sometimes in October 2015, had in your possession, in your house at Ubulusiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, one Emerald Magnum Pump Action gun and one Delta Magnum Pump Action gun as well as 41 catridges/ammunition without lawful authority or license, an offence contrary to Section 27c (b) (1) of firearms Act, Act.  F28 of the laws of Nigeria.

    Read Also: IPOB appeals proscription order

  • Panic as fire guts Kuje Prison clinic

    Panic as fire guts Kuje Prison clinic

    A clinic located inside the Kuje Prison yesterday evening  was gutted by fire.

    The incident, according to an eyewitness, threw everyone, including the prisoners, into confusion.

    Investigations revealed that officers of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) on duty struggled with several fire extinguishers to put off the fire which lasted for 15 minutes.

    The source could not confirm what caused the fire and the extent of property destroyed, but he said no life was lost.

    Reacting to the incident, the NPS, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Command Public Relations Officer, Humphrey Chukwuedo, who confirmed the fire outbreak, told our correspondent through a telephone conversation that investigation was on to reveal the cause of the fire.

    Chukwuedo said: “It actually occurred at about 4pm yesterday. Investigation is still on to ascertain the cause of the fire. But the fire has been put off. No life was lost and no property was destroyed.

    “Our men were proactive to put off the fire. It will also interest you to know that no prisoner was on admission or receiving treatment at the time. We have locked up all prisoners and they were already in their cells.

    “This was actually what happened. And normalcy has returned to the prison.”

  • Court remands ex-Jigawa Governor Turaki in Kuje prison

    Court remands ex-Jigawa Governor Turaki in Kuje prison

    •Arraigned on 32-count for alleged N36b fraud

    •Granted N500m bail

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

    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.

    They were arraigned on a 32-count charge, in which they were accused of laundering about N36 billion.

    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 yesterday on a 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 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 could still be granted 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, they reported the agreed terms to the court, which the judge partially adopted and granted Turaki bail at N500 million, 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 Turaki  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 once in a month.

    Justice Dimgba directed the EFCC to liaise with the court’s Registrar 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 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, 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 Money 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 May 3, 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.”