A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, after he failed to appear in court for arraignment in a criminal case instituted by the police.
The order was handed down on Thursday by Justice Peter Kekemeke, who ruled that the former minister had no justification for his absence despite being duly served with both the charge and hearing notice.
Turaki, who previously served as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, is being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police on a one-count charge of allegedly providing false information in a petition dated October 5, 2022.
According to court filings, the alleged offence is punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Law. Prosecutors told the court that the defendant had been notified of the proceedings but failed to honour the summons, prompting a request for his arrest.
At the hearing, prosecution counsel Usman Rabiu urged the court to invoke provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to compel Turaki’s appearance. The judge agreed, holding that where a defendant is aware of a pending charge but refuses to attend court, the appropriate order is a bench warrant to ensure compliance.
Justice Kekemeke stressed that filing petitions or objections does not automatically halt criminal proceedings unless expressly directed by the Chief Judge, rejecting arguments from the defence that Turaki’s absence was tied to a pending petition seeking the transfer of the case.
Earlier proceedings in the matter had been stalled on January 28 after the defendant failed to appear in court, despite an order mandating his presence. The renewed absence at Thursday’s sitting ultimately led to the court’s decision to order his arrest.
The court subsequently directed law enforcement authorities to arrest and produce Turaki before it for arraignment, with the case adjourned to April 22, 2026, for further proceedings.
