In this picture, Mr Tanimu Turaki is seated in one of the courtrooms at the Federal High Court in Abuja on May 4, 2020. The former minister is being arraigned by the EFCC over allegations of fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki.

Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was arraigned on Monday alongside one other person and two companies over allegations of multi-million naira fraud.

Those arraigned along with the former minister are Sampson Okpetu, who served as Turaki’s special assistant, as well as Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited which allegedly belong to Okpetu.

The defendants were brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the nation’s capital on 16 counts filed against them by the EFCC.

Turaki was the Minister for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs from 2013 to 2015.

He also served as the Supervising Minister of Labour from 2014 to 2015.