Next week promises to be interesting as former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Saminu Turaki, heads to court to file comtempt charges against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for refusing to let him out on bail, even after a judge ordered he be released after meeting the set conditions.
EFCC sources insist he was not let out because he did not meet the set conditions as at Friday.
Turaki may have to spend the weekend at the EFCC office in Abuja.
A vacation judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu of an FCT High Court had Thursday granted the bail following an application filed by Turaki’s lawyers for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
In the suit filed by Rickey Tarfa Chambers, the former senator challenged his arrest and detention by the EFCC for over a week.
In granting Turaki bail, the FCT High Court ordered him to deposit his travel documents with the court and produce two sureties who nust be resident in Abuja.
In addition, the judge ordered the former Governor to report to the EFCC fortnightly.
EFCC’s attempt to challenge the bail was rebuffed by the court though the commission said it had filed a counter-application at a Federal High Court to keep him in custody.
The court fixed July 20, 2017 for the hearing of his fundamental rights suit.
Apparently unhappy with the bail conditions, the EFCC rushed to a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday to get an order to keep the former Senator, but because courts are on break till September, it could not succeed.
Though Turaki’s lawyers and a court bailiff took the bail order to the commission shortly after he was granted bail on Thursday, it was received by its legal department, but he was not released at press time Friday.
Turaki was picked at book launch in Abuja by EFCC operatives using a four years old arrest warrant issued by a Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State.
The Jigawa Court had been trying him for a 36-count charge of alleged concealment of N36 billion during his tenure as governor.
He is also alleged to have diverted N12 billion from the state coffers to finance former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s alleged Third term bid.
