By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has vacated an arrest warrant it earlier issued against the factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kabiru Turaki.
Justice Peter Kekemeke had issued the warrant for Turaki’s arrest on Thursday, March 25, for failing to appear before the court in a one-count charge brought against him by the Inspector General of the Police (IGP).
The IGP had, in the charge accused Turaki of giving false information to the police in a petition he lodged in 2022.
During the proceedings on March 25, the prosecutor had prayed the court for a bench warrant, noting that Turaki had failed to appear in court to take his plea in the charge pending against him.
At the resumed proceedings on Wednesday, April 1, Turaki was present.
Counsel to the defendant, Chris Uche, apologised for his client’s earlier absence and noted that Turaki holds the court in high regard.
Uche added that as a show of good faith, he would withdraw the motion on notice seeking a stay of execution of the arrest warrant, noting that his client was ready to take his plea.
The counsel thereafter urged the court to vacate the arrest warrant issued against Turaki. The application was not opposed by counsel to the prosecution, Usman Rabiu.
Rabiu noted that the purpose of the arrest warrant was to compel the defendant to submit to the court’s jurisdiction, which had now been achieved.
In his ruling, Justice Kekemeke observed that the defendant appeared voluntarily before the warrant could be executed, adding that while counsel had apologised, no clear reason was given for Turaki’s earlier absence.
The judge subsequently vacated the arrest warrant.
Kekemeke, however, noted that the matter was scheduled for a hearing of the defendant’s motion on notice and held that it would be inappropriate to proceed with the arraignment.
The court also struck out the motion on notice seeking a stay of execution of the arrest warrant after it was withdrawn by the defence and not opposed by the prosecution.
The judge thereafter adjourned the case to April 22 for Turaki’s arraignment on the one-count charge.
