| Ibrahim Saminu Turaki | |
|---|---|
| Constituency | Jigawa North West |
| Governor of Jigawa State | |
| In office 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Abubakar Maimalari |
| Succeeded by | Sule Lamido |
| Senator Jigawa North West | |
| In office 29 May 2007 – May 2011 |
|
| Succeeded by | Danladi Abdullahi Sankara |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 July 1963 |
| Political party | People's Democratic Party (PDP) |
| Profession | Politician |
Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki is a Nigerian 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).[1]
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Ibrahim Saminu Turaki was born on 14 July 1963. He attended the Federal Government College Kaduna and the Ahmadu Bello University where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Actuarial Science in 1985.[2]
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 Party (ANPP).[1] In 2000, Turaki decentralized the Jigawa state government, allocating many aspects to the five Emirate councils of Hadejia, Dutse, Gumel, Ringim and Kazaure.[3]
In 2002, Turaki supported a ruling that a couple convicted of having sex outside marriage should be executed.[4] 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.[5]
In December 2006 he transferred his allegiance to the People's Democratic Party (PDP).[6]
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 & Population[1] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
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 Sudan.[10] 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.[11][12]
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.[13]
A 2006 report said he was involved in acquiring companies in Nigeria’s insurance industry for president Olusegun Obasanjo.[14]
In July 2007 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Saminu Turaki over allegations of corruption and money laundering.[15] Turaki faced a 32-count charge of money laundering, and was said to have laundered about N36 billion of public funds into private accounts.[16] He was released on bail with stringent conditions.[17]
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