The N8.3 billion fraud case against a former Nigerian governor has been decided by the court.
Touchaheart Nigeria reports that Senator Ibrahim Saminu Turaki was cleared of the N8.3 billion in corruption allegations brought against him by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-graft organization, by a Federal High Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State, in the country’s north.
This online news source reports that a former Jigawa State governor, Senator Turaki, and three companies have been on trial since May 4, 2007.
Touchaheart Nigeria reports that the EFCC filed a 33-count complaint against the pair for diversion and theft of public monies.
Justice Hassan Dikko, the presiding judge, who made the decision, ordered that the first accused person’s travel documents be handed to him immediately after striking out all accusations and discharging all defendants for lack of diligent prosecution.
One of Saminu Turaki’s defense attorneys, Saidu Muhammad Tudunwada, responded to the verdict by saying that the court had found merit in their request to have the accused individual released from the 33 count charges.
The defense attorney for Saminu Turaki remarked that everyone has won since justice has been delivered by the decision.
