FCT High Court Issues Arrest Warrant for PDP Chairman Kabiru Turaki

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kabiru Turaki, over his failure to appear in court for arraignment.

The presiding judge, Justice U. P. Kekemeke, ruled that the defendant failed to provide a valid reason for his absence and ordered his immediate arrest. The court directed that he be brought before it to face the pending charge.

Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs under the administration of 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 was earlier scheduled for arraignment on January 28 but could not proceed due to his absence, despite a prior court directive requiring him to be present.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the prosecution urged the court to issue a bench warrant, citing his repeated failure to honour the court summons. In response, defence counsel argued that Turaki was absent because he had filed a petition before the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, seeking a transfer of the case to another judge over lack of confidence.

However, Justice Kekemeke held that filing such a petition does not halt criminal proceedings unless the Chief Judge gives a specific directive to that effect.

The court granted the prosecution’s request and ordered that Turaki be arrested and produced before the court. The matter was adjourned for further proceedings.