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Tag: Turaki

  • Court clears ex-Minister Turaki of money laundering charge

    Court clears ex-Minister Turaki of money laundering charge

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, discharged and acquitted former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, of money laundering charge.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on the no-case submission filed by the defence, said the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had failed to link Turaki and his co-defendants with the offences contained in the 16-count charge.

    He said that the prosecution could not establish a prima facie case against them.

    Justice Ekwo said that the defendants dislodged all the evidence of the prosecution witnesses called in the matter during cross examination, describing the 12 witnesses relied on by EFCC as “tainted witnesses.”

    The judge said that it was established during cross-examination that Turaki was not a signatory to the account of the ministry and did not authorise any payment or make any transfer of funds.

    He aligned with the argument that held the former minister was not a member of the Ministerial Tender Board and that there was no inflow of funds from the account of the ministry to Turaki’s company.

    EFCC had in the 16-count charge, accused the ex-minister and others of unlawful and criminal misappropriation of N715 million.

  • Court grants ex-Minister Kabiru Turaki’s request to travel to Turkey on medical grounds

    Court grants ex-Minister Kabiru Turaki’s request to travel to Turkey on medical grounds

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday granted the prayer of the former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, to travel to Turkey for medical attention.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the leave after Counsel to the former minister, G. C. Ofulue, moved the motion on notice with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/61/2020 and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCac)’s Lawyer, Nasir Saidu, did not oppose it.

    Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until Nov. 11 for trial continuation.

    Turaki was expected to travel between July 25 and Aug. 15.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the motion, which was dated July 5, was filed July 12.
    It also sought “an order for the release of the 1st defendant/applicant’s international passport (Passport No: A04572609) to enable him to travel to Turkey for further medical attention.”

    Ofulue, who gave eight grounds while the order to travel was important, said Turaki had complied with all the bail conditions.

    “Since being granted bail, the 1st defendant/applicant has attended all court sittings concerning this case and has not violated the terms of his ball,” he said.

    NAN recalls that Turaki was arraigned before the court on May 4, 2020, following which he was granted bail.

    Turaki, alongside three others, was arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on unlawful and criminal misappropriation of funds to the tune of N715 million.

    Other defendants are Sampson Okpetu, who served as his special assistant; Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited — companies linked to Okpetu.

    The EFCC alleged that the ex-minister used the two companies belonging to his aide to illegally transfer funds.

    Having taken a “not guilty” plea, his lawyer, Joe Gazama, SAN, asked the court to grant bail to his client.

    The bail application was unopposed by the EFCC.

    The judge, then, granted the defendants bail on self-recognition and on the same conditions granted to them in the administrative bail by the EFCC.

  • EFCC arraigns ex-minister, Turaki, others over fraud

    EFCC arraigns ex-minister, Turaki, others over fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a former Minister of special duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki over alleged fraud.

    Turaki was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo at the Federal High Court, Abuja alongside his former Special Assistant, Sampson Okpetu, and two firms – Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited – on a 16-count charge.

    According to the EFCC, Turaki allegedly used the two companies belonging to his aide, to illegally siphon funds.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

    In ruling on Turaki’s bail application, Justice Ekwo adopted all the terms and conditions in the administrative bail that was earlier granted to him by the EFCC.

    EFCC was directed to transfer the terms of the bail to the court’s registry.

    The bail conditions include that the defendants should not travel outside the country without permission from the court.

    Justice Ekwo thereafter adjourned the matter until June 22 for trial.

  • 2019: Atiku competent to defeat Buhari – Turaki

    2019: Atiku competent to defeat Buhari – Turaki

    Presidential Aspirant in the just-concluded National Convention of the PDP in Portharcourt, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has congratulated the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for emerging as the party’s presidential standard bearer in the 2019 general elections.
    In a congratulatory letter, Turaki who competed with the former Vice President and ten others for their party’s nomination at the convention which was adjudged as fair and transparent, noted that Atiku’s victory bore eloquent testimony to his prowess as a formidable politician with a vast network of supporters.
    The former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs said also that the emergence of the former Vice President as PDP’s candidate attested to his widely-acknowledged attribute of building bridges of friendship across the various divides in the country.
    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted that the former Vice President has the requisite knowledge, experience and political sagacity to defeat the candidate of the ruling party, APC or any other candidate that may want to pose a formidable challenge to him and their party at the presidential poll.
    Turaki noted further that the same attributes of knowledge, experience and political astuteness which the former Vice President has garnered in both the public and private sectors as well as in politics, stand him in good stead to tackle contemporary challenges facing the nation.
    While wishing Atiku good health, God’s guidance and provision as he embarks on another campaign trail, this time to secure the votes of the electorate, Turaki assured him of his full support and collaboration and that of his political organization and network to ensure resounding victory at the 2019 Presidential election.

  • Alleged misappropriation of funds: EFCC appeals Turaki’s ‘liberal’ bail

    Alleged misappropriation of funds: EFCC appeals Turaki’s ‘liberal’ bail

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday filed a fresh motion before an FCT High Court asking it to set aside the bail it granted to Saminu Turaki, the former Governor of Jigawa State.

    The EFCC in the motion filed through its counsel, Mohammed Abubakar claimed that the bail condition given to Turaki by Justice Yusuf Halilu was too liberal.

    The commission also based it request on the ground that the matter had already been filed in an Abuja Federal High Court before the judge granted the bail.

    The reports that the judge was not around to take the motion as at the time it was filed Friday evening.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Turaki was last week arrested by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the launch of a book titled, ‘The First Regular Combatant: Brigadier General Zakariya Maimalari’, which was written by Haruna Paloma, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    The event was well attended by eminent Nigerians including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Moguno; the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen Tukur Buratai; and several others.

    The Judge had asked Turaki to provide two sureties who must be residence within the FCT and with a verifiable means of livelihood as part of the bail conditions.

    Justice Halilu also ordered that the applicant should deposit all his travelling documents with the court registry.

    Also as part of the bail conditions the ex-governor was ordered to report to EFCC every two weeks to sign a register that would be opened for him.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Turaki is being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly mismanaging Jigawa state’s funds while he in office as governor.

     

  • JUST IN: Court grants ex-Jigawa gov, Turaki bail

    JUST IN: Court grants ex-Jigawa gov, Turaki bail

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday granted bail to a former Governor of Jigawa State, Saminu Turaki, who was recently arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    Justice Yusuf Halilu granted him bail on conditions which merely required him to submit his traveling documents to the registry of the court, produce “two reasonable sureties” who are residents in Abuja and sign a register to be opened at the EFCC office every two weeks.

    The anti-graft agency produced the former governor in court on Thursday in compliance with an earlier order of the judge.

    The EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, who had opposed Turaki’s request for bail, had informed the judge that the former governor was arrested at an event in Abuja on July 4, following an arrest warrant issued against the suspect about three years ago.

    The lawyer explained that the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State, had issued the arrest warrant following the failure of the former governor to attend court to face trial for charges filed against him about five years ago.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Turaki was last week arrested by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the launch of a book titled, ‘The First Regular Combatant: Brigadier General Zakariya Maimalari’, which was written by Haruna Paloma, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    The event was well attended by eminent Nigerians including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Moguno; the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen Tukur Buratai; and several others.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Turaki is being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly mismanaging Jigawa state’s funds while he in office as governor.