A magistrate court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has granted Kabiru Turaki, a former minister for special duties and inter-governmental affairs, bail in the amount of N1 million after he was arraigned on charges including false marriage, adultery, and other offences.
Turaki, upon hearing the first information report (FIR) in the Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court in Abuja on Thursday, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The FIR alleges that Turaki unlawfully induced a belief in a lawful marriage, committed adultery, and engaged in criminal intimidation, in violation of sections 383, 387, and 389 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution revealed that the case stemmed from a petition filed on August 9, 2024, which was submitted to the Deputy Inspector General of Police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja.
The charge stated that “you Barrister Kabiru Taminu Turaki (SAN), between December 2014 and August 2016, deceitfully cohabited with Ms. Hadiza Musa Bafta at a hotel called Han’s Place”.
“You also cohabited with her at Ideal Home Holiday, Asokoro, between August 2016 and November 2021,” it added.
“You hired a place for her at No. 12 Clement Akpagbo Close, Gauzape, from November 2021 and made her believe you were married to her and continuously had sexual intercourse with her, which resulted to a baby girl.
“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.”
After the defendant’s plea, Chijioke Okorie, the prosecuting lawyer, asked the court to set a date for the commencement of trial.
Turaki’s lawyer, A. I. Mohammed, who did not object to the prosecution’s request for a date for trial, applied for bail on the grounds that he would be available whenever required to attend court.
Abubakar Jega, the presiding magistrate, granted bail to Turaki at N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
He said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must provide evidence of the residences.
The magistrate then adjourned till March 11 for the commencement of trial.
