By Vivian Okejeme Abuja
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court Abuja, yesterday, admitted a former Governor of Jigawa state, Saminu Turaki, to a fresh bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in the sum N250 million each. Turaki was arraigned alongside three companies, INC Natural Resources Ltd, Apel Construction Ltd and WideHeart Construction Ltd over alleged 32 counts charges bordering on money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Th is is the second time, Turaki will be admitted to bail inless than a week. Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had last Th ursday admitted Turaki to bail from the custody of the EFCC. Arguing his bail application, counsel to the defendant, Ahmed Raji, moved an oral application praying the court to grant his client bail on ground that the defendant is not an ordinary citizen as he had ruled a state for eight years. He cited Section163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which entitles the defendant to bail unless the court sees the contrary.
Opposing the oral application, the prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, argued that Section 163 cited by the defence was more rigid than Section 162 of the ACJA. However, the trial judge, Justice Dimgba granted him bail after listening to both parties submissions. In the fresh bail, the judge held that the two sureties should either be a businessman, private person or a civil servant not below the level of Director and must have a landed property in within the FCT or any of the
Satellite towns within Abuja. He added that the defendant must deposit his travel documents with the court’s registrar and must report to the headquarters of the EFCC every fi rst working day of every month. Justice Dimgba, therefore, ordered the defendant should be remanded in Kuje prison pending the satisfaction of the bail condition. Th e court later adjourned the case till September 19, a date which the Federal High Court, Dutse, had earlier fi xed.
