Ex-Governor of Jigawa, Saminu Turaki, has been granted bail in his trial for involvement in an alleged N36billion fraud while he served as the state's governor.
According
to a report by Premium Times, the governor was granted bail despite
being on the run for four years after a warrant of arrest was issued on
him.
Turaki, it was further reported, was granted bail by Justice Halilu of the High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 13, 2017.
In a statement signed by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren, the anti-graft agency’s counsel, M.S. Abubakar, opposed the bail conditions, highlighting the antecedents of the accused in avoiding trial and evading arrest.
“Our action of arrest was in furtherance of Section 35(1b) of 1999 Constitution, as well as a valid order of the court.
“We
submitted an administrative letter dated July 7, 2017 to the registry
of the Federal High Court, Jigawa, requesting them to transfer the
matter to the Federal High Court, Abuja for arraignment (before the
vacation judge) or alternatively, remand him in prison custody pending
arraignment. However, we have not received a response.
“Due
to this, we filed a similar application dated July 13, 2017 to this
honourable court. Justice Halilu admitted the accused to bail on
conditions which require him to deposit his travel documents to the
registry of the court, produce two sureties with reasonable source of
income and as well as report to the Commission every two weeks from
today, July 13, 2017 till when the court resumes from vacation in
September, 2017.”
Uwujaren further said: “Once
he meets the bail condition, we’ll release him. Why has the applicant
chosen to come and drink from the cup of equity at this court. Was it
not this same court that he refused to stand before prior to now?”
Turaki
was was arrested by the EFCC, four years after an arrest warrant was
issued by a Federal High Court in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, on
May 3, 2013.
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