Court orders Turaki’s arrest

He also clarified that the petition that led to the case dates back to 2022 and is unrelated to his role in PDP.

When the case was called, prosecuting counsel, Usman Rabiu, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment, but the defendant was absent despite being duly served with the charge and a hearing notice.

Rabiu urged the court to invoke Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, to compel the defendant’s appearance by issuing a bench warrant.

He opposed a move by Turaki’s counsel, Abdulaziz Ibrahim (SAN), who had earlier filed a motion seeking to quash the charge.

Rabiu argued that such an application could only be entertained after the defendant had taken his plea.

Ibrahim contended that his client’s presence was not necessary at this stage, urging the court to grant him five days to file written addresses in support of the motion to quash the charge.

In a ruling, Justice Kekemeke held that Turaki’s absence was unjustified.

He noted that the defence did not deny that the defendant had been served with both the charge and the hearing notice.

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The judge ruled that, under Section 396(2) of the ACJA, where a defendant who is aware of a pending charge fails to appear in court without explanation, the appropriate order is the issuance of a bench warrant to secure his attendance.

He further held that the motion to quash the charge was premature and could only be considered after the defendant had entered his plea.

Justice Kekemeke subsequently issued a bench warrant for Turaki’s arrest and adjourned the case till April 22 for arraignment.

The charge, marked CR/647/2026, alleges that Turaki, on or about October 5, 2022, in Abuja, gave false information to the Inspector-General of Police through a petition he personally signed against one Saidi Mohammed Mainasara.

He was accused of intending to use the lawful powers of the police to the injury or annoyance of the said Mainasara, an offence punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code.

Turaki alleges political interference

Turaki linked the issuance of the bench warrant to what he described as possible external political influence.

In a statement signed by his Principal Private Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the former minister said his absence in court was due to a sudden medical situation.

He explained that the petition forming the basis of the charge was written in 2022 when he was acting as a private citizen and had no connection with the current internal crisis within the PDP.

The statement said: “Today, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama 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.

“The warrant was issued due to his absence in court, which was occasioned by a sudden hospital visit.

“In addition, his lawyers had already filed an application seeking to quash the charge, which ordinarily would not require his physical presence.”

Turaki said his legal team had promptly filed an appeal against the bench warrant, along with an application for a stay of execution of the order.

While distancing the case from ongoing political developments in the PDP, he maintained that the possibility of external influence could not be ruled out.

“While it must be emphasised that this matter is completely unrelated to the PDP or any contemporary political issues, external political influence cannot be completely discounted,” the statement added.