Justice Halilu Yusuf of an Abuja High Court in Maitama, Abuja on Thursday admitted the former governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki to bail after he was arraigned before the judge. The former governor was arrested in Abuja at function following his attempt to invade trial . Turaki was first arraigned before Justice Binta Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court but had his case was later re assigned to Justice Sabi’u Yahuza of the Federal High Court, Dutse, Jigawa State after he objected to the jurisdiction of the court in Abuja. He was subsequently re-arraigned at the Federal High Court in Dutse ,Jigawa on a 32-count charge of misappropriating N36 billion while in office. . However after his re-arraignment at Federal High Court Dutse ,Turaki the defendant refused to attend trial – a situation which resulted in the Commission declaring him wanted in May, 2013. Operatives of the Commission finally apprehended him on July 4, 2017 at a public function in Abuja, pursuant to a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court, Dutse, Jigawa State. Turaki was brought to court yesterday in compliance with an earlier order of court. At the proceedings, 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. He was also ordered to report to the Commission every 2 weeks till when the court resumes from vacation in September, 2017. According to Justice Halilu, bail was granted “in light of the fact that the accused has not taken his plea.” Earlier, counsel to the prosecution, M.S Abubakar had opposed 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, while commending the efforts of the prosecution to liaise with the Registry of the Federal High Court, Jigawa, questioned the motives of the defendant applicant in filing a substantive human rights matter at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on July 10, 2017 asking, “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?” The matter has been adjourned to July 20, 2017 for hearing on the substantive application.
