By Ayomide Otitoju
The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has appealed a bench warrant issued for his arrest by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 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 in court 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 filed the appeal and stay application, explaining that his absence was due to a “sudden hospital visitation.” The statement also noted that an application to quash the charge had already been filed, which ordinarily would not require his presence in court.
“The High Court granted a bench warrant against Kabiru Turaki SAN on a charge of giving false information to the police in a petition he wrote as a private citizen in 2022. His absence was due to a sudden hospital visitation. With the issuance of the bench warrant, his lawyers have immediately filed an appeal and application for the stay of execution,” the statement read.
The office stressed that the matter is unrelated to PDP internal affairs but hinted that “external political influence cannot be completely exorcised,” urging party members to remain calm.
The charge, filed by the Inspector-General of Police, stems from a 2022 petition Turaki wrote in his personal capacity. At the proceedings, prosecution counsel Usman Rabiu informed the court that the case was scheduled for Turaki to enter his plea. Despite being served, he was absent, prompting the prosecution to invoke Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, requesting the bench warrant.
Defence counsel Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN, argued that a motion to quash the charge had already been filed and requested time to submit written addresses, asserting that Turaki’s presence was not required until the motion was resolved. The prosecution countered that the plea must be entered before the validity of the charge could be challenged.
Justice Kekemeke ruled that Turaki’s absence was unjustified, noting that the defendant had been duly served and that the motion to quash the charge was premature. The judge ordered the bench warrant and adjourned the matter to April 22 for arraignment.
