Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), former Minister of Special Duties and current factional PDP National Chairman, has formally appealed an arrest warrant issued by the FCT High Court.
The order, handed down by Justice Peter Kekemeke, stemmed from Turaki’s non-appearance at a hearing concerning a 2022 petition allegedly containing false information.
Represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Turaki cited health complications as the reason for his absence.
Furthermore, his counsel has submitted an application to quash the proceedings, maintaining that the motion is a legal argument that does not necessitate the defendant’s physical appearance.
“The warrant was granted because of his absence in court today when the case was called. The petition was written in 2022, and due to his sudden hospital visitation, he was unable to attend.
“Additionally, his lawyers had filed an application seeking to quash the charge, which ordinarily would not require his presence,” the statement said.
Turaki’s legal team has immediately filed an appeal alongside an application for a stay of execution against the bench warrant.
He maintained that the matter is unrelated to the PDP but hinted at possible external political influence.
“While it needs emphasizing that this matter is completely unrelated to the Peoples Democratic Party, external political influence cannot be completely ruled out,” the statement added.
The case, marked FCT/HC/CR/647/25, was initially before Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya but was reassigned to Justice Kekemeke after Turaki petitioned the Chief Judge, expressing lack of confidence in the earlier proceedings.
Persecondnews reports that the Prosecuting counsel Usman Rabiu had urged the court to compel Turaki’s attendance, citing repeated absences and invoking the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
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