Former Jigawa governor Saminu Turaki arrested at book launch attended by Obasanjo and Gowon

FORMER Jigawa State governor Saminu Turaki was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday at a book launch in Abuja attended by former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-head of state General Yakubu Gowon.

 

Governor Turaki, who governed Jigawa State between 1999 and 2007 and also served as a senator between 2007 and 2011, has been a members of the Peoples Democratic party, the All Nigerian Peoples Party and the Action Congress of Nigeria. In July 2007 the EFCC arrested him over allegations of corruption and money laundering but he was released on bail

 

At his arraignment, Governor Turaki faced a 32-count charge of money laundering, having been said to have laundered about N36bn (£88m) of public funds into private accounts. yesterday, he was picked up at the public presentation of a book titled The First Regular Combatant: Brigadier General Zakariya Maimalari, written by Haruna Poloma at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

 

In an embarrassing incident, the event was also attended by Chief Obasanjo, General Gowon, national security adviser Babagana Moguno, the chief of staff to the president Abba Kyari  and the chief of army staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai. Governor Turaki had also been accused in court of using N12bn out of the N36bn to fund Chief Obasanjo’s failed third term bid in 2006.

Last year, EFCC operatives went to his house in a bid to execute an arrest warrant for the former governor who had failed to present himself for trial since 2011 when he was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State. This was after the court had issued a warrant directing the inspector-general of police or his officers and the EFCC to arrest Governor Turaki and bring him before the court.

Justice Yahuza gave the order after Governor Turaki failed to appear before the court and the EFCC declared him wanted. Apparently, Goveror Turaki had been on the EFCC's watch list for several months but had continued to evade arrest.

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