From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse
A Federal High Court sitting in Dutse has issued a criminal summon on the former Governor of Jigawa State, Senator Ibrahim Saminu Turaki for consistently refusing to appear to answer criminal charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Turaki was dragged before the court by the EFCC on alleged charges of graft and misuse of public funds amounting to N36 billion during his Eight-year tenure as governor.
Barrister Aisha Tahir Habib who stood in as the prosecuting counsel said the case had been on without progress because the accused has not been physically available.
Counsel to the accused Barrister Saidu Muhammed Tundun wada had presented a medical report indicating that his client was indisposed hence he could not come to court.
The Presiding Judge Sabiu Yahuza blamed the prosecuting counsel for the unnecessary delay and motion without movement in the matter saying that it is only in Nigeria that criminal cases are treated with kids gloves.
He adjourned till the 9th of April 2014 for further hearing.
He prayed for an order stopping the prosecution and the Police from executing the arrest warrant issued against him.
Justice Sabiu Yahuza who presided over the case recently ruled ‘That the proceedings of this Court dated 17th April 2013 is hereby set aside.’
He also ordered for the restoration of thae bail of the former Governor which was earlier revoked.
Meanwhile the state Commissioner of Justice Barrister Yakubu Ruba has observed with dismay that the reasons advanced before the court came barely two days of the accused appearance at a grand rally in the state.
How Police Officer Conspired with Vandals to Siphon Crude Oil – Witness By Joy Baba
A witness in the on-going trial of Dodo Chilla Bulus, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, yesterday told a Federal High Court, Abuja how the accused person conspired with vandals to break crude oil pipeline and siphon product.
Bulus is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 2-count charge bordering on oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
EFCC’s Head of media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement said at the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, Lolade Longe, an operative of the commission who was led in evidence by Elizabeth
Ayodele, counsel to the Commission, told the court that the accused person served as informant to vandals who siphoned crude oil from broken pipeline.
According to the statement “I interrogated the suspect. He admitted in his statement that he was the Commander of the Task Force, Pipeline Vandalism. He said he received a text message from his boss, ACP Ibadim Friday informing him that vandals are likely to operate along Abaji Road and that he should be at alert.
“Instead of following up the message with action, Dodo Bulus forwarded the same message sent to him by his boss to one Joseph Amaechi, a prime suspect in this matter before your Lordship.
The case has been adjourned to March 10, 2014 for continuation of trial, the statement added.
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