A Federal High Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State, on Thursday, discharged and acquitted former governor of the state, Senator Ibrahim Saminu Turaki of the N8.3bn corruption charges brought against him by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Turaki and three other companies had been on trial since May 4, 2007, in a 33 count suit filed by the EFCC.
The former governor was The former governor was first arraigned on July 13, 2007, by the EFCC before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The case was, however, transferred to the Federal High Court, Dutse, in 2011, after the former governor challenged the jurisdiction of the FCT division of the court.
Consequently, a new judge, Justice Hassan Dikko, was reassigned to take over the case which was formerly being handled by Justice S. Yahuza before his retirement early in December.
The presiding judge, Justice Hassan Dikko, who delivered the ruling on Thursday, struck out all charges and discharged all the accused persons for want of diligent prosecution.
The court further ordered that the travel document of the first accused person, Turaki, be released to him with immediate effect.
One of the defense counsels, Saidu Tudunwada, in a reaction to the judgment, said the court found merit in their application for the discharge of the accused person against the 33 counts.
He added that with the ruling, justice had been served and it was a victory for all.
