On Wednesday, a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, gave Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ₦100 million in bail.
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 charge, which was filed by the Inspector-General of Police and was given the number CR/647/2026, 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 in a petition dated October 5, 2022.”
The police said that the crime is against the law and can be punished under Section 140 of the Penal Code Law. When the charge was read in open court, Turaki said he was not guilty.
Abulaziz Ibrahim (SAN), his lawyer, asked the court to grant 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, said that the defendant had avoided being served and had not shown up for court until he was declared wanted.
He told the court to keep Turaki in jail and stressed that bail should only be given out when it is needed.
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 did not show that Turaki was a flight risk. Because of this, the court gave Turaki bail of N100 million with one surety in 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.
