A factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kabiru Turaki, was on Wednesday arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over an allegation of providing false information to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
Turaki, who was brought before Justice Peter Kekemeke on a one-count charge pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him in court.
Following his plea, his counsel, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, informed the court that the defendant had filed three separate applications but sought to withdraw two of them.
The court subsequently struck out the withdrawn applications.
The defence lawyer then moved the third application, urging the court to admit Turaki to bail.
He argued that the request was made pursuant to Section 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), maintaining that the defendant was entitled to bail unless the court found compelling reasons to deny it.
Ibrahim also urged the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition, describing him as an elder statesman, former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and a respected community leader with several traditional titles.
However, prosecuting counsel opposed the application and urged the court to remand the defendant pending trial.
In his ruling, Justice Kekemeke held that bail is both a discretionary judicial power and a constitutional right.
The judge noted that the prosecution failed to provide convincing reasons why Turaki should be denied bail and subsequently granted him bail in the sum of 100 million naira with one surety in like sum.
The court held that the surety must be a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with at least 20 years post-call experience or a legal practitioner with over 40 years of practice.
The matter was adjourned until June 11 for hearing.
According to the charge, Turaki allegedly submitted false information to the IGP through a petition written on his letterhead, dated October 5, 2022
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
