Former Jigawa Governor Saminu Turaki acquitted of N8.3bn fraud by court

Saminu Turaki, a former Governor of Jigawa state has been acquitted by a federal high court sitting in Dutse, the Jigawa capital, of N8.3bn fraud charges slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Turaki and three other companies who have been on trial since May 4, 2007, on a 33-count charge, were first arraigned before Binta Nyako, judge of the federal high court, on July 13, 2007.

It was transferred to the federal high court in Dutse in 2011, after the former governor challenged the jurisdiction of the Abuja court to hear the matter.

Following the retirement of Justice Sabiu Yahuza, the case was reassigned to Justice Hassan Dikko.

Ruling on the case on Thursday October 13, Dikko struck out all charges and discharged all the accused persons for want of diligent prosecution.

The judge also ordered that Turaki’s travel document be released to him with immediate effect.