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 a criminal case filed by the police.
Justice U.P. Kekemeke ruled that Turaki had no valid excuse for his absence and approved the prosecution’s request for a bench warrant to compel his appearance.
Turaki, who 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 in a petition submitted in October 2022.
The case had previously been scheduled for arraignment on January 28 but could not proceed due to his absence, despite an earlier court order directing him to be present.
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During the latest hearing, the prosecution urged the court to issue a warrant for his arrest. However, defence counsel explained that Turaki had filed a petition before the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, seeking the transfer of the case to another judge over concerns about fairness.
In his ruling, Justice Kekemeke stated that filing such a petition does not automatically stop court proceedings unless there is an official directive from the Chief Judge.
The court subsequently ordered that Turaki be arrested and brought before it for arraignment, and adjourned the case for further proceedings.
