ABUJA — A fresh legal drama has unfolded in the Federal Capital Territory as factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, moves swiftly to challenge a bench warrant issued for his arrest by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The warrant, ordered by Justice Peter Kekemeke, followed Turaki’s failure to appear in court for the hearing of a one-count charge bordering on allegedly providing false information to the Inspector-General of Police in a petition dated 2022.
Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, attributed his absence to a sudden medical emergency. In a statement issued through his Principal Private Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, he explained that his unexpected hospital visit prevented him from attending the proceedings.
According to the statement, Turaki’s legal team had already filed an application seeking to quash the charge—an application that ordinarily does not require the defendant’s physical presence in court.
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“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 read.
In response to the court’s decision, Turaki’s lawyers have filed both an appeal and an application for a stay of execution of the bench warrant, signaling an immediate push to halt any enforcement action pending judicial review.
While maintaining that the case is entirely unrelated to internal affairs of the PDP, Turaki hinted at possible political motivations behind the prosecution.
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“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 assigned to another judge before being reassigned to Justice Kekemeke after Turaki petitioned the Chief Judge, citing lack of confidence in the earlier proceedings.
During the latest hearing, prosecuting counsel Usman Rabiu urged the court to compel Turaki’s appearance, noting what he described as repeated absences. He relied on provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to justify the request for a bench warrant.
As the legal battle intensifies, attention now turns to how the court will respond to Turaki’s appeal and whether the warrant will be suspended pending determination of his application.
The unfolding case adds another layer of intrigue to Nigeria’s political and legal landscape, with implications that could extend beyond the courtroom.
