A dramatic twist unfolded at the Federal Capital Territory High Court as Justice Keke Meke issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former minister, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, over his failure to appear in court for arraignment.
The court also dismissed an application by the defence seeking to quash the charges against the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), clearing the way for his prosecution.
Turaki is to be produced before the court by the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, to answer allegations bordering on providing false information to the police.
The case, which had earlier been assigned to a High Court in Zuba, took a contentious turn after the defendant failed to honour court proceedings. His legal team subsequently filed a petition against the presiding judge and requested a reassignment of the matter—moves that did not halt the judicial process.
Delivering a firm ruling on Thursday, Justice Meke held that there was no valid justification for Turaki’s absence, emphasizing that the defendant was fully aware of the proceedings. The court, therefore, ordered his immediate arrest to compel his appearance.
During the heated session, prosecution counsel Rabiu Umar strongly opposed the defence application, while defence counsel Abdulaziz Ibrahim argued for the charges to be struck out—arguments the court ultimately rejected.
The development has intensified legal pressure on the former minister, marking a significant escalation in the case.
The matter has been adjourned to April 22 for arraignment, setting the stage for what observers describe as a high-stakes legal battle.
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