A former governor of Jigawa state, Saminu Turaki, has been arrested and detained by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Turaki who served in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, was arrested at the venue of the public presentation of a book on Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari, the first regular combatant officer in the Nigerian Army, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Tuesday.
The book was written by Haruna Polama and the launching was graced by former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd); the National Security Adviser, Babagana Moguno; the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen Tukur Buratai; and several others.
Before the arrest, EFCC has had to declare Turaki wanted for failing to present himself for trial since 2011 on 36 counts corruption charge before the Federal High Court, Dutse.
The court had issued a warrant directing the Inspector General of Police or his officers and the EFCC to arrest Turaki and bring him to justice.
Justice S. Yahuza gave the order after Turaki consistently failed to attend trial but attempts to execute the warrant failed as he remained elusive.
It would recalled that on May 19, 2016 operatives of the Commission acting on a tip-off had stormed the 16 Denis Osadebey Street Asokoro, Abuja home of the former governor but he managed to escape.
Turaki faces charges bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy, stealing, money laundering and misappropriation of public funds.
He was first arraigned by the EFCC before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in 2007 on 32 counts of misappropriating N36bn while he was governor.
The case was later transferred to Federal High Court, Dutse after he challenged the jurisdiction of the FCT court.
Turaki had also been accused in court of using N12bn out of the N36bn to fund former President Obasanjo’s failed third term bid in 2006.
