Date Published: 07/20/10

Turaki stole N6 billion in one day

Ex-Governor Turaki

Former Governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State stole about N6 Billion from the state treasury in one day, current Governor Sule Lamido has alleged.

Turaki who is currently a Senator had also allegedly stolen a Burkinafaso diplomatic passport which he had planned to use to escape from prosecution as exclusively reported by Pointblanknews.com. He is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Turaki had shopped for prospective buyer(s) for his crude oil bloc OPL 252 and OPL 292 allocated to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in appreciation of a solid backing for the failed third-term Presidency bid. Turaki’s two oil blocs are estimated to be worth over $80 Million.

The former Governor who is charged for embezzling and laundering over N36 Billion was said to be making desperate moves to sell off the oil prospecting license in order to stave-off possible revocation of the allocation by the Government of Nigeria. It has not been ascertained if the oil blocs have been sold as at the time of going to press.

However, according to Governor Lamido in an interview with PM News, “This is somebody who looted N6 billion in one day. He could write a cheque of N500 million and cash across the counter by different people, until he got  up to N6 billion. That is not all, he cut an existing road into two, that is about one kilometre and awarded the contract at N3 billion.

“He also gave a contract for the sinking of borehole to his company and paid N7 billion upfront. We have proof of this, the facts are there,” he declared.

On Turaki’s accusation that he (Lamido) was building expensive schools, the governor asked: “Where are the schools he (Turaki) built? If I am building expensive schools, it is because I have  taste. I was foreign minister and I saw beautiful places all over the world, State Houses, palaces. So who says our people do not deserve the best? This man is ashamed of the fact that he failed our people. Let us leave him to his self delusion,” he advised.

Speaking on Turaki’s plot to deny him (Lamido) a second term, Governor Lamido said:

“Even with my hands tied to my back, I am ready to fight him. You see, this seat I am occupying made Turaki a phenomenon. The seat is right now making me a phenomenon. And I am now more than ready for the fight. I am the governor of the state, whereas he is a senator. We shall see who will triumph at the end of the day.”