Court Orders Arrest of PDP Factional Chair Turaki

A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kabiru Turaki, a factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over his failure to appear in court.

The order was given on Thursday by Justice U.P. Kekemeke, who ruled that Turaki had no valid excuse for his absence. The case was filed by the Nigeria Police Force under the authority of the Inspector-General of Police.

Turaki, a former minister, is facing a one-count charge for allegedly providing false information to the police in a petition submitted in October 2022.

The defendant was initially scheduled for arraignment on January 28, but the proceedings could not go on due to his absence. During the hearing, the prosecution informed the court that Turaki had been duly summoned and requested the issuance of a bench warrant.

In response, the defence counsel explained that Turaki’s absence was due to a petition submitted to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, seeking the transfer of the case to another judge over concerns about fairness.

However, Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya ruled that such a petition does not halt criminal proceedings unless the Chief Judge issues a formal directive. The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 5.

The latest ruling reinforces the court’s position, mandating law enforcement to ensure Turaki’s appearance in court.