former Jigawa State governor, Senator Saminu Turaki, on Friday appeared before a Federal High Court sitting in Dutse over 32 count charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former governor was earlier standing trial before an Abuja High court since 2007 on the same count charge, but the case was re-opened by the EFCC and transferred to Jigawa State for prosecution.
The former governor, who was present in court during the proceedings was asked to stand in the witness box for 85 minutes while the charges were read to him.
The former governor was accused of conspiracy between him, his companies, Arkel Nigeria limited, Wild Cat Construction Company, INC Natural resources and one Ahmed Muhammed Ibrahim now at large. Both were said to have defrauded the state government to the tune of N40 billion.
The charges include illegal transactions involving N8.4 billion, N1 billion on the 3rd May 2006 , another N1billion on the 23rd of May 2006 , N6 billion also on the 23rd of May 2006 and N91, 870, 142. Y60 million on the 25th of August 2006, which it said contravened section 14, 17 sub section 1B of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004.
In his ruling, the presiding judge of the court, Justice Shehu Yahaya allowed the accused person to continue to enjoy the bail based on the conditions granted by the previous judges.
Speaking before the court, counsel to the accused person, Barrister Mahmud Abubakar Magaji prayed the court to grant bail to his client orally.
Barrister Magaji, while explaining his oral application for bail said that, "all evidence and facts are available before the court that Turaki was granted bail by two previous judges who handled the case before its transfer to Dutse but that his client never jumped bail nor made any move that could tamper with the court case"
The former governor was earlier standing trial before an Abuja High court since 2007 on the same count charge, but the case was re-opened by the EFCC and transferred to Jigawa State for prosecution.
The former governor, who was present in court during the proceedings was asked to stand in the witness box for 85 minutes while the charges were read to him.
The former governor was accused of conspiracy between him, his companies, Arkel Nigeria limited, Wild Cat Construction Company, INC Natural resources and one Ahmed Muhammed Ibrahim now at large. Both were said to have defrauded the state government to the tune of N40 billion.
The charges include illegal transactions involving N8.4 billion, N1 billion on the 3rd May 2006 , another N1billion on the 23rd of May 2006 , N6 billion also on the 23rd of May 2006 and N91, 870, 142. Y60 million on the 25th of August 2006, which it said contravened section 14, 17 sub section 1B of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004.
In his ruling, the presiding judge of the court, Justice Shehu Yahaya allowed the accused person to continue to enjoy the bail based on the conditions granted by the previous judges.
Speaking before the court, counsel to the accused person, Barrister Mahmud Abubakar Magaji prayed the court to grant bail to his client orally.
Barrister Magaji, while explaining his oral application for bail said that, "all evidence and facts are available before the court that Turaki was granted bail by two previous judges who handled the case before its transfer to Dutse but that his client never jumped bail nor made any move that could tamper with the court case"
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