The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanimu Turaki, has appealed a bench warrant issued for his arrest by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama and filed an application seeking a stay of execution.
The warrant, issued on Thursday by Justice Peter Kekemeke, followed Turaki’s failure to appear for his arraignment on a charge of allegedly giving false information to the police.
In a statement, Turaki’s office said his legal team had immediately filed an appeal against the bench warrant, along with a request to stay its execution. The statement cited a “sudden hospital visitation” as the reason for his absence.
“Today, the High Court of the FCT granted a bench warrant against Kabiru Turaki SAN on a charge of giving false information to the police in a petition he submitted as a private citizen in 2022. The warrant was issued due to his absence from court,” the statement read.
The statement added that Turaki’s lawyers had already filed a motion to quash the charge, which normally would not require his presence. It also stressed that the matter is unrelated to internal PDP affairs but acknowledged that “external political influence cannot be completely exorcised,” urging party members to remain calm.
Court proceedings
The charge, filed by the Inspector-General of Police, stems from a 2022 petition Turaki submitted as a private citizen. At the hearing, prosecution counsel Usman Rabiu told the court that the day’s proceedings were scheduled for the defendant to enter his plea. Turaki was absent despite being served with the charge and hearing notice.
Rabiu cited Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, urging the court to issue a bench warrant to compel Turaki’s appearance. Defence counsel Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN, argued that a motion to quash the charge had been filed and requested five more days to submit written addresses, asserting that Turaki’s presence was not required until the motion was determined.
The prosecution countered that the validity of the charge could only be challenged after the plea had been entered.
In his ruling, Justice Kekemeke held that Turaki, having been duly served with the charge and hearing notice, provided no valid reason for his absence. He noted that the defence did not dispute service. The judge further ruled that the motion to quash was premature and could only be heard after a plea was entered.
Consequently, the court ordered the issuance of a bench warrant and adjourned the case to April 22 for Turaki’s arraignment.
