FOR consistently refusing to appear before the court to answer charges over his involvement in the massive looting of his state to the tune of N36 billion, a Federal High Court judge Friday ordered the arrest of former Jigawa governor, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki.
Justice S. Yahuza issued the arrest warrant directing the Inspector General of Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to produce the former governor before the court with immediate effect.
“You are hereby commanded to arrest the said Ibrahim Saminu Turaki and bring him before me at Federal High Court, Dutse, Jigawa State without delay,” Judge Yahuza ordered in a release on Friday.
Before the issuance of the warrant, the EFCC had declared Turaki wanted for his failure to attend his trial in the N36 billion case of theft and money laundering instituted against him by the Commission.
Saminu Turaki, who ruled Jigawa from May 29, 1999–May 29, 2007, was first arraigned by the EFCC before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in 2007 on a 32-count charge of misappropriating N36 billion while he was governor.
But following his protest, the graft charge was later transferred to Federal High Court, Dutse for trial.
His last known address was No. 16, Dennis Osadebe Street, Asokoro Villa, Abuja.
But it was not clear last night whether the politician had left the country or was still in the country.