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Turaki Challenges Arrest Warrant, Cites Illness and Legal Motion
Former minister Kabiru Turaki challenges a court-issued bench warrant, blaming his absence on illness and insisting the case is unrelated to the PDP.
Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), the factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has moved to overturn a bench warrant issued for his arrest by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following his non-appearance at a court session.
Justice Peter Kekemeke ordered the warrant after Turaki failed to attend proceedings in a case bordering on a one-count charge of allegedly supplying false information to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) through a petition submitted in 2022.
Responding through his Principal Private Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Turaki attributed his absence to an emergency hospital visit. He further noted that his legal team had already filed an application seeking to quash the charge—an application that, he argued, does not necessitate his personal appearance in court.
“The warrant was granted because of his absence in court today when the case was called. The petition was written in 2022, and due to his sudden hospital visitation, he was unable to attend. Additionally, his lawyers had filed an application seeking to quash the charge, which ordinarily would not require his presence,” the statement said.
In response to the court’s action, Turaki’s legal team has filed an appeal alongside a motion for stay of execution of the warrant.
While distancing the issue from party affairs, Turaki suggested that political undertones may be at play.
“While it needs emphasizing that this matter is completely unrelated to the Peoples Democratic Party, external political influence cannot be completely ruled out,” the statement added.
The matter, filed as FCT/HC/CR/647/25, was originally before Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya but was reassigned to Justice Kekemeke after Turaki petitioned the Chief Judge, citing lack of confidence in the initial handling of the case. Prosecuting counsel Usman Rabiu had earlier urged the court to enforce Turaki’s attendance, referencing repeated absences and provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
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