A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, presided by Justice Kekemeke, on Thursday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), over his failure to appear for arraignment in a criminal case instituted by the Police.

The trial judge, Justice U.P. Kekemeke, held that Turaki had no justification for his absence in court and consequently ordered his arrest.

Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, in 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 earlier came up on January 28 for arraignment, but was stalled due to the defendant’s absence, despite a prior court order directing him to appear.

However, defence counsel informed the court that Turaki’s absence was due to a petition written to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, seeking the transfer of the case to another judge, citing a lack of confidence in the court.

Ruling on the issue, Justice Kekemeke held that the filing of a petition does not halt criminal proceedings unless there is a directive from the Chief Judge to that effect.

The judge, subsequently, granted the prosecution’s application and ordered that the defendant be arrested and produced before the court for arraignment.