Misappropriation: Ex-minister says, ‘no case to answer’

Bisi ABASS

Former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, on Wednesday, indicated his interest to file a no-case submission after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) closed its case.

Turaki, alongside three others, was arraigned by the EFCC, on a 16-count charge bordering on unlawful and criminal misappropriation of funds to the tune of N715 million before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Other defendants are Sampson Okpetu, who served as his special assistant; Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited — companies linked to Okpetu.

The anti-corruption agency had called 12 witnesses in the course of the trial.

After the cross-examination of the 12th prosecution witness, Hammadama Bello, an EFCC’s investigating officer, was discharged from the witness box. 

Thereafter, counsel to the anti-graft agency, Farouk Abdallah, told the court that the commission was closing its case.

However, a lawyer to Turaki, Joe Gadzama, SAN, told the court that they intended to file a no-case submission within the next 10 days.

In the same vein, counsel for other defendants in the matter also opted for no-case submission.

Justice Ekwo, in his ruling, granted the defence prayer to file their processes in respect of the no-case submission and also give 14 days for the prosecution to respond upon receipt of the applications as prayed.

The judge adjourned the matter until Jan. 17 for a hearing of the no-case submission.

Meanwhile, Gadzama, shortly after the sitting, told newsmen that he believed that “in view of the paltry evidence, both oral and documentary through 12 witnesses on the side of the prosecution, we sincerely believe that the performance of the prosecution as required by law is below par.”

He said, therefore, the defence had “the right in such a situation to approach the court with a no-case submission, that the court should not waste judicial time in going into the defence and listening to witnesses on the side of the defendants.”

EFCC had alleged that the ex-minister used the two companies belonging to his aide to illegally transfer the funds.

Having taken a “not guilty” plea, his lawyer, Gadzama, had asked the court to grant bail to his client.

The bail application was unopposed by the EFCC, and the judge granted the defendants bail on self-recognition and the same conditions granted to them in the administrative bail by the EFCC.