Saminu Turaki
Encyclopedia
Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki is a Nigeria
n politician and former governor of Jigawa State
in Nigeria. He was a Jigawa state chairman of SDP (Social Democratic Party) and UNCP (United Nigeria Congress Party).
where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Actuarial Science in 1985.
(ANPP).
In 2000, Turaki decentralized the Jigawa state government, allocating many aspects to the five Emirate councils of Hadejia, Dutse, Gumel, Ringim and Kazaure.
In 2002, Turaki supported a ruling that a couple convicted of having sex outside marriage should be executed.
In September 2006, Ibrahim Turaki was attacked by angry crowds when he tried to calm down a mob who were burned churches and shops belonging to Christians after an alleged blasphemous statement by a Christian woman about the Prophet Muhammad.
In December 2006 he transferred his allegiance to the People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
As senator, a May 2009 report said he had not originated any bills, but had co-sponsored six motions. He was active in the Sports Committee where he is Vice Chairman.
Turaki wanted to run for reelection in April 2011, but the PDP favored Danladi Abdullahi Sankara
, PDP vice chairman in charge of the Northwest as their candidate. Turaki therefore defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria.
In the April 2011 elections, Danladi was the winner. Turaki declared that there had been vote-rigging and he intended to take the case to court.
.
An article in the Los Angeles Times in 2 March 2004 described an arrangement with Rosa Whitaker
, a US Trade Representative for Africa, with whom he formed a Trade and Investment Foundation for Africa to attract Foreign Direct Investment for gum arabic
production.
In 2004 the Niger Republic, which was due to host a summit of Francophone
countries in Niamey
gave Wallong Camco Nigeria, a company in which Turaki had an interest, free land in exchange for building 86 housing units to accommodate visiting foreign dignitaries. In November 2008 Turaki was involved in a dispute over contract terms for sale of these units.
A 2006 report said he was involved in acquiring companies in Nigeria’s insurance industry for president Olusegun Obasanjo.
In July 2007 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) arrested Saminu Turaki over allegations of corruption and money laundering.
Turaki faced a 32-count charge of money laundering, and was said to have laundered about N36 billion of public funds into private accounts.
He was released on bail with stringent conditions.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n politician and former governor of Jigawa State
Jigawa State
-Location:Jigawa State is one of thirty-six states that constitute Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is situated in the north-western part of the country between latitudes 11.00oN to 13.00oN and longitudes 8.00oE to 10.15oE. Kano State and Katsina State border Jigawa to the west, Bauchi State to the...
in Nigeria. He was a Jigawa state chairman of SDP (Social Democratic Party) and UNCP (United Nigeria Congress Party).
Background
Ibrahim Saminu Turaki was born on 14 July 1963. He attended the Federal Government College Kaduna and the Ahmadu Bello UniversityAhmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University is the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa, second only to Cairo University, Egypt. It is situated in Zaria. It was founded on October 4, 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria....
where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Actuarial Science in 1985.
Jigawa governor
He was governor of Jigawa State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He was elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 on the platform of the All Nigeria People's PartyAll Nigeria People's Party
The All Nigeria Peoples Party is a conservative political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections , the party won 27.0% of the popular vote and 92 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and 27 out of 109 seats in the Senate...
(ANPP).
In 2000, Turaki decentralized the Jigawa state government, allocating many aspects to the five Emirate councils of Hadejia, Dutse, Gumel, Ringim and Kazaure.
In 2002, Turaki supported a ruling that a couple convicted of having sex outside marriage should be executed.
In September 2006, Ibrahim Turaki was attacked by angry crowds when he tried to calm down a mob who were burned churches and shops belonging to Christians after an alleged blasphemous statement by a Christian woman about the Prophet Muhammad.
In December 2006 he transferred his allegiance to the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
Senator
In April 2007, he ran for the Senate as a member of the PDP and was elected for the Jigawa North West constituency. He was appointed to committees on Upstream Petroleum Resources, Sports, Navy, National Planning and National Identity Card & PopulationAs senator, a May 2009 report said he had not originated any bills, but had co-sponsored six motions. He was active in the Sports Committee where he is Vice Chairman.
Turaki wanted to run for reelection in April 2011, but the PDP favored Danladi Abdullahi Sankara
Danladi Abdullahi Sankara
Danladi Abdullahi Sankara is a Nigerian politician who was elected Senator for the Jigawa North-West constituency of Jigawa State, Nigeria in the April 2011 elections...
, PDP vice chairman in charge of the Northwest as their candidate. Turaki therefore defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria.
In the April 2011 elections, Danladi was the winner. Turaki declared that there had been vote-rigging and he intended to take the case to court.
Alleged financial irregularities
In June 2003 Ibrahim Turaki said Jigawa had entered into agreements with American companies to start processing and exporting high-grade gum arabic to the United States, replacing imports from the SudanSudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.
An article in the Los Angeles Times in 2 March 2004 described an arrangement with Rosa Whitaker
Rosa Whitaker
Rosa Whitaker is the CEO and President of the Whitaker Group, a Washington, D.C.-based consultancy specializing in trade and investment in Africa....
, a US Trade Representative for Africa, with whom he formed a Trade and Investment Foundation for Africa to attract Foreign Direct Investment for gum arabic
Gum arabic
220px|thumb|right|Acacia gumGum arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, or meska, is a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal...
production.
In 2004 the Niger Republic, which was due to host a summit of Francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
countries in Niamey
Niamey
-Population:While Niamey's population has grown steadily since independence, the droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s, along with the economic crisis of the early 1980s, have propelled an exodus of rural inhabitants to Niger's largest city...
gave Wallong Camco Nigeria, a company in which Turaki had an interest, free land in exchange for building 86 housing units to accommodate visiting foreign dignitaries. In November 2008 Turaki was involved in a dispute over contract terms for sale of these units.
A 2006 report said he was involved in acquiring companies in Nigeria’s insurance industry for president Olusegun Obasanjo.
In July 2007 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
(EFCC) arrested Saminu Turaki over allegations of corruption and money laundering.
Turaki faced a 32-count charge of money laundering, and was said to have laundered about N36 billion of public funds into private accounts.
He was released on bail with stringent conditions.