Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, Managing Director of Dana Air, over his alleged failure to appear in court to face trial.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu stated that the arrest was warranted due to Ranesh’s repeated absence despite being served with charges and the court’s ongoing proceedings. Citing Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the judge emphasized that the law permits issuing an arrest warrant against any defendant who fails to attend court hearings.
The court has adjourned the case to January 13, 2025, for further hearing.
The Federal Government, represented by its legal counsel, had previously requested the bench warrant on October 10, noting that Ranesh had consistently failed to appear for his arraignment on charges filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. However, Ranesh’s defense lawyer contended that a preliminary objection had been filed to challenge the court’s jurisdiction and argued that the prosecution was aware of this filing.
