The Nigerian police on Wednesday arraigned a factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabir Turaki, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for submitting a petition with false claims three and a half years ago.
The police charged Mr Turaki with giving false information to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) through a petition dated 5 October 2022.
The prosecution accused him of writing the petition against one Saidi Mainasara with intent to use the lawful power of Inspector-General of Police to harm and annoy Mr Mainasara, the subject of the complaint.
The offence, according to the prosecution, is punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Law.
Turaki, a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The judge Peter Kekemeke granted Turaki bail in the sum of N100 million after he was arraigned.
Turaki previously drew the ire of the judge, who ordered his arrest for his absence from court on 26 March, stalling his trial.
The arrest warrant, although eventually not executed, was in place until 1 April when the judge withdrew it following an appeal from Mr Turaki’s lawyer, Chris Uche, who is also a SAN.
In his ruling on Turaki’s bail application on Wednesday, Kekemeke, noted that the politician appeared in court before the arrest warrant was executed.
The surety, according to the judge, must be a SAN with not less than 20 years of practice or a lawyer with over 40 years of practice.
He then adjourned the case until June 11 for hearing.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
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