BREAKING NEWS
Court Orders Commencement of Trial of Ex-Minister Kabiru Turaki, SAN
Abuja, June 11, 2026
The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, on Thursday ordered the commencement of trial of former Minister Kabiru Turaki, SAN.
Recall that the matter, Charge No. FCT/HC/CR/647/2025, came up for arraignment on April 22, 2026, and was adjourned to June 11, 2026.
IN COURT:
The prosecuting counsel made reference to a 22-page counter affidavit which it filed on the 23rd of March, the same day as the written address, which the prosecuting counsel stated it wished to adopt.
Argument on the deponent
Ibrahim Abdulaziz, SAN, defence counsel, argued that the affidavit offends Section 115 of the Evidence Act. According to him, the deponent did not disclose his source of information, and that the deponent is neither an IPO nor a prosecution witness. He further urged the court to strike out the entire paragraph of the affidavit and argued on the ground of vagueness, claiming that the complainant intends only to persecute the defendant, as according to him, the charge did not disclose any prima facie evidence against the defendant.
The defence counsel further argued that the charge traumatises the defendant socially, mentally, and emotionally, and urged the court to quash the charge, forgetting that the defendant was the first to petition the Nigeria Police Force, which, upon a rigorous investigation process, found his claims to be false and charged him to court. After being charged to court, the defendant further accused the NPF of mutilating files, and also accused a judge of the FCT High Court in Zuba, necessitating the matter to be moved to another court, the FCT High Court, Maitama under Justice Kekemeke, where a bench warrant had to be issued against him for failing severally to appear before the court.
The prosecuting counsel, U.U. Rabiu, in response to the submission of the defence counsel, cited the case of Josien Lornamead Ltd (1995), where the court held that affidavit evidence is a statement of fact or information heard or received from someone by the deponent.
He argued that the deponent is an officer or staff attached to the office of the complainant (Director of Legal Services, NPF), who is the custodian of the original case file, and that the deponent personally sourced his information. He further argued that the provision of Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act provides that any preliminary objection after the plea of the defendant has been taken should be determined along with the substantive matter before the court.
The prosecuting counsel asked the court to make an order for accelerated hearing.
COURT RULING:
The court ruled that there is a lacuna in the supporting affidavit. However, going by the aforementioned provision, which is a "mandatory provision", the court refused the application of the defendant and ordered the commencement of trial.
The matter was adjourned to 18th June, 2026.
This report is based on proceedings in open court on June 11, 2026, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama. The defendant, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, is presumed innocent until proven guilty. All parties are entitled to fair hearing under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
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