The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the dreaded operatives of Interpol has begin a manhunt on the embattled former governor of Jigawa State, Senator Saminu Taraki, who has abandoned his trial on allegations of corruption amounting to N36 billion before a federal High court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State.
A highly placed source at the commission at the weekend told Nigerian pilot that the chairman of the EFCC Ibrahim Lamorde has approved the despatch of some operatives of the commission in conjunction with Interpol operatives to ascertain the whereabouts of Turaki within or outside the country.
Justice S Yahuza of the Federal High Court sitting in Dutse had last month issued a warrant directing the Inspector General of Police or his officers and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arrest Senator Saminu Turaki, former governor of Jigawa State and bring him before the court.
“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,” the court ordered.
Sequel to the court order for his arrest, the EFCC declared Turaki wanted for failure to attend his trial in a theft and money laundering case instituted against him by the commission.
Saminu Turaki who was born on July 14, 1963 was a two term governor of Jigawa State between 1999 and 2007.
Turaki 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.
The case was later transferred to Federal High Court, Dutse after he challenged the jurisdiction of the FCT Court.
He was subsequently rearraigned on a 32-count charge at the Federal High Court Dutse, Jigawa State.
His last known address was No. 16, Dennis Osadebey Street Asokoro, Abuja.
The commission implores anyone having useful information about the whereabouts of the suspect to notify its offices in Kano, Gombe, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Lagos or report at the nearest police station respectively.