A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kabiru Turaki, SAN, a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Justice Peter Kekemeke made the order after Turaki—who served as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs from 2013 to 2015—failed to appear in court to answer a one-count charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
In the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/647/25, police alleged that the factional PDP national chairman provided false information in a petition he lodged in 2022.
The prosecution stated that Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, of No. 37 T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja, on or about October 5, 2022, within the jurisdiction of the court, gave false information to the Inspector-General of Police through a petition dated the same day.
He was accused of committing an offence punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Law.
Police prosecutor Usman Rabiu had earlier prayed the court to invoke Section 143 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and order Turaki’s arrest for repeatedly failing to appear.
The matter, initially pending before Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya, was later transferred to Justice Kekemeke following a petition written by the defendant to the Chief Judge of the High Court, expressing lack of confidence in the handling of the case.
Justice Ogbonnaya had declined to issue a warrant of arrest before handing over the case. However, at Thursday’s resumed proceedings, the court expressed dissatisfaction over the defendant’s continued absence.
Justice Kekemeke held that there was no justification for the defendant’s failure to appear, having been duly served with the hearing notice, and subsequently ordered his arrest and production for arraignment.
