Court issues arrest warrant for PDP factional Chairman Kabiru Turaki

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The order was made by Justice Peter Kekemeke after Turaki failed to appear in court to answer a one-count charge filed against him by the Nigeria Police Force.

In the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/647/25, the police alleged that Turaki provided false information in a petition dated October 5, 2022. The offence is said to be punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Law.

Prosecuting counsel, Usman Rabiu, had urged the court to invoke Section 143 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to compel the defendant’s appearance, citing repeated absences despite being duly served.

The case was initially before Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya but was later reassigned to Justice Kekemeke following a petition by the defendant questioning the court’s impartiality. While the former judge declined to issue a warrant, Justice Kekemeke, at Thursday’s proceedings, ruled that there was no justification for Turaki’s continued absence.

Consequently, the court ordered his arrest and production for arraignment, marking a significant turn in the ongoing legal proceedings.