The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Thursday ordered the arrest of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after he failed to appear for arraignment in a criminal case instituted against him by the police.
Justice Peter Kekemeke issued a bench warrant directing security agencies to apprehend the former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs and produce him before the court.
Turaki is being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police on a one-count charge alleging that he supplied false information to the police through a petition he filed in 2022.
According to the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/647/25, the senior advocate allegedly misled the police in a petition dated October 5, 2022. The offence is said to be punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Law.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the police prosecutor, Usman Rabiu, urged the court to order the defendant’s arrest pursuant to Section 143 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, arguing that Turaki had repeatedly failed to honour court summons.
The matter was originally before Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya but was reassigned after the defendant petitioned the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, claiming he lacked confidence in the court’s handling of the case.
Justice Ogbonnaya had earlier declined to grant the prosecution’s request for a bench warrant prior to the reassignment.
However, at the resumed hearing before Justice Kekemeke, the court held that Turaki had been duly served with hearing notices but failed to present himself without any explanation.
The judge consequently granted the prosecution’s application and issued a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest, directing that he be brought before the court to face the charge against him.
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