By Abiola Olawale
A former Nigerian Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs and appointed arbitrartor in the raging internal Crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has been arraigned before a court on charges including false marriage, adultery, and criminal intimidation.
He was arraigned in a magistrate court in Abuja.
Recall that Turaki was recently tipped to mediate in the internal strife rocking the PDP, a move that has further polarized division in the party.
The New Diplomat reports that the allegations centre around the following issues, among other: that between December 2014 and November 2021, Turaki deceitfully cohabited with Ms Hadiza Musa Bafta, leading her to believe they were married, which resulted in a child.
The case stemmed from a petition dated August 9, 2024, leading to an investigation by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Abuja.
The former minister is also accused of “deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage, adultery by a man and criminal intimidation, contrary to sections 383, 387 and 389 of the Penal Code.”
The prosecution in the legal charges stated that: “You also co-habited with her at Ideal Home Holiday, Asokoro, between August 2016 and November 2021.
“You hired a place for her at No. 12, Clement Akpamgbo Close, Gauzape November 2021 and made her believe you were married to her and continuously had sexual intercourse with her, which resulted in a baby girl.”
” That you abandoned Hadiza Musa Baffa with her only child and denied the paternity. You threatened to use your influence and position to terminate the lives of mother and child.
“You are thereby suspected to have committed the above offences.”
However, when the charges were read to him, Turaki pleaded not guilty.
Following his arraignment, the magistrate court granted the former minister bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum, with conditions that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide evidence of residence.
The magistrate, therefore, adjourned till March 11 for the commencement of trial.
With this development, it is not clear when Turaki who was appointed by the PDP Governors and BoT to mediate, and indeed carry out arbitration on the Crisis rocking the party would be in good stead for such an assignment.
