A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday ordered the arrest of a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), after he failed to appear in court for his arraignment in an ongoing criminal case.
Presiding over the matter, Justice U.P. Kekemeke ruled that there was no sufficient justification for Turaki’s absence and consequently issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Turaki, who previously served as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs under former President Goodluck Jonathan, is being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police on a one-count charge of allegedly providing false information to the police in a petition dated October 2022.
The case had initially been scheduled for arraignment on January 28 but was delayed due to his absence, despite an earlier court directive mandating his appearance.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the prosecution urged the court to compel his attendance through a bench warrant, citing his failure to honour the court’s summons.
In response, defence counsel explained that Turaki’s absence was linked to a petition he submitted to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, requesting that the case be reassigned to another judge on grounds of lack of confidence in the current court.
However, Justice Kekemeke clarified that such a petition does not automatically halt court proceedings unless expressly directed by the Chief Judge.
The court subsequently granted the prosecution’s request, ordering that Turaki be arrested and brought before the court for arraignment. The matter was adjourned for further proceedings.
