A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has vacated an arrest warrant it issued against Kabiru Turaki, factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Peter Kekemeke, presiding judge, ordered Turaki’s arrest on March 26 after he failed to appear in court. The prosecutor had also prayed the court for a bench warrant, noting that the politician had failed to appear in court to take his plea in the charge pending against him.
The inspector general of police (IGP) had filed a one-court charge against Turaki for allegedly providing false information to the police in a petition dated October 2022.
At the resumed proceedings on Wednesday, Turaki was present.
Chris Uche, counsel to the defendant, apologised for his client’s earlier absence, stating 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 senior advocate thereafter urged the court to vacate the arrest warrant. Responding, Usman Rabiu, counsel to the prosecution, said he did not oppose the application.
He 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.
“Since he is here, we are not opposed to his being arraigned today,” Rabiu said.
