Segun Atanda/

Former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N714, 670, 014.87 fraud.

He was arraigned on May 4, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 16 count charge. 

Also arraigned were his special assistant, Sampson Okpetu and two companies: Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited. 

Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was the Minister for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs from 2013 to 2015. He also served as the Minister of Labour from 2014 to 2015.  

Count one of the charges reads: “That you Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (whilst serving as Minister for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs) sometime in January 2015 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use the sum of N159,104,000 (One Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Four Thousand only) out of the sum of N359, 104,000 (Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Four Thousand Naira only) released to the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs for the purpose of sensitization and enlightenment of Muslim Youths, knowing that the said sum is a proceed of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section (15(3) bf the same Act.” 

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all 16-counts brought against him, while Okpetu, his special assistant pleaded not guilty to counts 10 to 12. A not guilty plea was also entered for the two companies. 

In view of the pleas, prosecution counsel, Halifax Shehu asked for a commencement date of trial. He said that the prosecution had lined up nine witnesses for presentation in court on the matter. 

Turaki’s defence team, led by Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN, alongside four other senior lawyers applied for his bail, urging the court to grant it on self-recognition.  

Counsel to the second defendant O.M. Atoyebi, SAN, also prayed the court to grant the defendant bail based on self-recognition or on liberal terms in line with the administrative bail granted the defendants by the EFCC. 

While not opposing the bail applications, the prosecution urged the court to grant bail conditions that would ensure the court attendance of the defendants all through the trial. 

In granting the bail applications, Justice Ekwo said that the terms of the administrative bail granted the defendants by the EFCC were reasonable, adoptable, and therefore, adopted them.  

He ordered that the defendants continued to enjoy the administrative bail condition granted them by the EFCC, adding that the particulars of the EFCC administrative bail be transferred to the Registrar of the Court, which included the international passports of the defendants, which are in the custody of the EFCC.  Additionally, the defendants were barred from travelling out of the court’s jurisdiction without the leave of the Court. 

In addition to the transfer of his international passport to the Court, the second defendant is to produce one surety who must be a Deputy Director on Grade Level 16. 

The case was adjourned to June 22, 23, 24 and 25, 2020.