Arrested Ex-Governor Released From EFCC

Justice Yusuf Halilu on Thursday, July 13 granted the former governor Saminu Turaki bail on conditions which required him to submit his traveling documents to the registry of the court.

The former governor of Jigawa state, Saminu Turaki, who was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on July 4, has been granted bail by a High Court in Abuja.

The former governor was also mandated to produce two reasonable sureties who are residents in Abuja and sign a register to be opened at the EFCC office every two weeks.

Turaki was brought to court on Thursday by the EFCC in compliance with an earlier order of the judge. During Turaki’s request for bail, the EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, who opposed the request, informed the court 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 told the judge that the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa state, had issued the arrest warrant after the Turaki failed appear in court to face trial for charges filed against him about five years ago. Meanwhile, the EFCC has arraigned the administrative secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gombe state, Tarkumbur Gregory alongside two retired staff before the state High Court on allegations of bribery.

According to the anti-graft agency: "Administrative secretary, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Gombe state, Mr.Gregory Tarkumbur, and two retired INEC staff: Bunu Mulima and Yunusa Ali Biri were this morning arraigned by EFCC before Justice Abubakar Jauro of High Court 9 Gombe, over N138 million bribe allegedly offered them by former petroleum minister, in the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan during the 2015 general elections."

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges leveled against them. The case was subsequently adjourned to November, 1 and 2 for hearing. The judge, Abubakar Jauro, also admitted the accused persons to bail on the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted them by the Commission.