On Wednesday, a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, gave ₦100 million bail to Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Turaki, who used to be the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, was brought before Justice Peter Kekemeke on a single charge of allegedly giving the police false information.
The Inspector-General of Police filed the charge, which was marked CR/647/2026. It said that he gave false information in a petition dated October 5, 2022.
The charge says that “you… gave false information to the Inspector-General of Police via a petition dated October 5, 2022.”
According to the police, the crime is punishable by Section 140 of the Penal Code Law. When the charge was read in open court, Turaki said he was not guilty.
His lawyer, Abulaziz Ibrahim (SAN), asked the court to let him out on bail, saying that the crime was bailable.
He said, “My Lord, this defendant is also the real leader of the PDP… an elder statesman, a former Minister, and a respected leader in the community.”
Usman Rabiu, the prosecution’s lawyer, opposed the application, saying that the defendant had avoided service and had not shown up for court until he was declared wanted.
He asked the court to keep Turaki in jail, saying that bail should only be given out carefully.
Justice Kekemeke said in his decision that bail is a basic right and that the defendant had willingly come to court.
The judge said that the prosecution didn’t show that Turaki was a flight risk. As a result, the court gave Turaki bail of N100 million and one surety of the same amount.
It said that the surety had to be a Senior Advocate of Nigeria with at least 20 years of experience or a lawyer with at least 40 years of experience.
The case was put off until June 11 for a hearing by Justice Kekemeke.
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