KEY POINTS

• FCT High Court issues arrest warrant for Kabiru Turaki, factional PDP chairman
• Turaki accused of providing false information to police in a 2022 petition
• Court frustrated by repeated absences; arrest ordered for arraignment

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following his failure to appear in court to face a criminal charge.

Justice Peter Kekemeke made the order on Thursday after Turaki, who served as Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs from 2013 to 2015,did not attend proceedings for a one-count charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

The charge, filed on November 15, 2025, under case number FCT/HC/CR/647/25, alleges that Turaki provided false information to the police in a petition he submitted on October 5, 2022. The petition reportedly contained misleading claims, constituting an offence under Section 140 of the Penal Code Law.

Police prosecutor Usman Rabiu had requested that the court invoke Section 143 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to order Turaki’s arrest due to his repeated failure to appear in court.

The case was initially assigned to Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya but later transferred to Justice Kekemeke after Turaki petitioned the Chief Judge of the High Court, citing lack of confidence in the original judge’s impartiality. Justice Ogbonnaya had previously declined to issue the warrant.

During Thursday’s resumed proceedings, Justice Kekemeke expressed frustration over Turaki’s absence, noting that the defendant had been properly served with the hearing notice and had provided no valid justification for failing to appear. Consequently, the court ordered Turaki’s arrest and his production for arraignment.

Turaki’s failure to appear in court comes amid heightened scrutiny of factional disputes within the PDP, and the case has attracted significant attention from political observers. The court’s action underscores the judiciary’s resolve to enforce attendance and accountability in criminal proceedings, regardless of the defendant’s status.