EFCC storms former gov's home over N36bn theft

The EFCC has launched a manhunt for Saminu Turaki, a former governor of Jigawa state

– The former governor is standing trial for allegedly stealing N36bn when he was governor of the state from 1999 to 2007

– Turaki was nowhere to be found when the EFCC operatives stormed his home on Wednesday evening Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed the Abuja residence of Saminu Turaki, a former governor of Jigawa state on Wednesday evening, May 18.

He was said to have allegedly embezzled the sum of N36 billion while in office, This Day reports. Saminu Turaki allegedly embezzled the sum of N36 billion while he was governor The neighbours of Turaki claimed to have spotted the operatives at his home at 16 Dennis Osadebe street, Apo, at about 7pm. It’s not clear what their mission was or whether they arrested Turaki. However, an EFCC source who confirmed the raid said the operatives did not find the former governor at home as only a few members of the family were found in the house.  According to the source, the anti-graft agency had been on the trail of Turaki for some time now and even had him watch-listed, but “he has continued to evade arrest.” The source said the former governor, who was also a member of the Senate from 2007 to 2011 has refused to present himself for trial since 2011 when he was re-arraigned on a 36-count charge at the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa state. The court had issued a warrant directing the Inspector General of Police or his officers and the EFCC to arrest Turaki and bring him before the court. Report has it that Justice S. Yahuza gave the order after Turaki failed to appear before the court, with the EFCC previously declaring him wanted. The source explained that the EFCC operatives went to the house in a bid to execute a warrant of his arrest. The former governor is being prosecuted by the EFCC for N36billion theft and money laundering crime which he committed while in office. He was first arraigned in 2007 before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on a 32-count charge of misappropriating N36billion.  Some of the charges against him include the N12billion withdrawn from the state government treasury for the financing of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term mission. The case was later transferred to Federal High Court, Dutse after he challenged the jurisdiction of the FCT Court to hear the matter. Meanwhile, the former head of service of the federation, Stephen Oronsaye was re-arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court in Abuja on an amended 35-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretense. Oronsaye is being charged along with Osarenkhoe Afe, Fedrick Hamilton Global Services Limited, Cluster Logistic Limited, Kangolo Dynamic Cleaning Limited, and Drew Investment and Construction Company Limited.