A former
governor of Jigawa State, Senator Saminu Turaki, was arrested on Tuesday by
agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was
picked up at an Abuja venue holding a public presentation of a book on
Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, the first regular combatant officer in the
Nigerian Army.
Before the
arrest, Mr. Turaki had been declared wanted for failing to present himself for
trial since 2011 on a 36-count charge of corruption before the Federal High
Court, Dutse.
The court
had issued a warrant directing the Inspector General of Police or his officers,
as well as the EFCC, to arrest the former governor and bring him to court.
Justice S. Yahuza gave the order after Mr. Turaki consistently failed to attend
his trial.
But attempts
to execute the warrant failed, as Mr. Turaki remained elusive. On May 19, 2016
operatives of the EFCC, acting on a tip-off, stormed the 16 Denis Osadebey
Street Asokoro, Abuja home of the former governor, but he slipped through their
hands.
Mr. Turaki
faces multiple charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, money
laundering and misappropriation of public funds.
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