Court Orders Arrest Of Former Nigerian Minister
Court Orders Arrest Of Former Nigerian Minister
…..Tanimu Turaki Over Absence At Arraignment
An FCT High Court has ordered the arrest of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), a factional national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former minister, after he failed to appear in court for his arraignment in a criminal case filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The order was issued on Thursday by Justice U.P. Kekemeke, who held that Turaki had no justification for failing to appear before the court in a matter bordering on allegedly providing false information to the police.
Turaki is currently facing prosecution on a one-count criminal charge filed by the police for allegedly submitting a petition containing false information to the office of the Inspector-General of Police.
The charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/647/25, was filed on November 15, 2025 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the charge sheet, Turaki allegedly provided misleading information to law enforcement authorities in a petition dated October 5, 2022, an act prosecutors say contravenes the provisions of the law.
The charge reads in part: “That you Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, (SAN), ‘m’, of No. 37 T.Y. Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja, on or about 5th October, 2022 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, gave false information to the Inspector-General of Police via a petition dated 5th October, 2022.”
Prosecutors further stated that the alleged offence is punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Law.
In January, the arraignment of Turaki before Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya of the FCT High Court was stalled in after the defendant filed a petition challenging the judge.
The matter was initially listed for arraignment on Monday, January 26, 2026, but Turaki failed to appear in court on that date.
At the proceedings of January 26, the court ordered the defendant to appear again on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, for his arraignment.
However, when the case resumed on January 28, Turaki was once again absent.
At the sitting, Usman Rabiu appeared for the prosecution while S. Nasir represented the defendant.
Addressing the court, Rabiu told the judge that the case was scheduled for arraignment in line with the court’s earlier directive but that the defendant had chosen not to attend the proceedings.
“Based on the order of this court made on January 26 directing the defendant to appear in court today for arraignment, the matter is for arraignment, my Lord,” Rabiu said.
“However, the defendant has decided to stay away.”
He subsequently urged the court to issue a warrant for Turaki’s arrest.
“In the circumstances, it is our humble application that this court should issue a warrant of arrest against the defendant under Section 143 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015,” Rabiu submitted, noting that the decision rests at the discretion of the court.
Responding, Turaki’s counsel, S. Nasir, informed the court that his client’s absence was due to a petition he had submitted to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, seeking the transfer of the case to another court.
Nasir said the petition raised issues relating to confidence in the court handling the matter.
“It is common knowledge that justice is rooted in confidence, and where there are issues that have to do with confidence, a party has the right to seek redress,” Nasir said.
Nasir further argued that the prosecution was aware of the petition and therefore should understand the reason for Turaki’s absence.
He urged the court to dismiss the prosecution’s request for a warrant of arrest.
In response, the prosecution insisted that a petition against a judge cannot automatically halt ongoing court proceedings.
Rabiu argued that allowing such practice would enable defendants to frustrate criminal trials.
“That the defendant wrote a petition to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court cannot make the court suspend his arraignment,” he said.
He warned that accepting such an argument could undermine the justice system.
Rabiu further argued that a party who disobeys a court order should not expect the court to entertain further applications.
In her ruling, Justice Ogbonnaya held that the mere filing of a petition against a judge does not automatically suspend criminal proceedings.
The judge explained that only a written directive from the Chief Judge could lawfully halt the proceedings.
“There is no law or judgment that says a judge should stop proceedings because of a petition, except there is written instruction from the Chief Judge,” the court held.
Justice Ogbonnaya emphasised that once a court orders a defendant to appear for arraignment, the defendant must comply.
She also reiterated her earlier remarks on judicial independence.
Despite the prosecution’s request for a bench warrant, the judge exercised discretion and declined to immediately issue one, noting that she had been instructed by the Chief Judge to respond to the petition filed by the defendant.
“The Chief Judge, whom I hold in high esteem and respect, has instructed me to respond to the petition,” the judge said.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to March 5 for further proceedings.
The court had earlier delivered a ruling dismissing a motion filed by Turaki seeking to set aside an order of substituted service granted on December 3, 2025.
Justice Ogbonnaya questioned why Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had lawyers appearing on his behalf but was still absent from court despite being aware of the pending criminal charge.
She maintained that the order of substituted service was legally made and could not be set aside.
The judge noted that Turaki’s awareness of the charge was evident because his lawyers were already representing him in court.
Justice Ogbonnaya also rejected the defence argument that an order for substituted service must be made only in writing.
She concluded that the motion filed by the defence lacked merit.
Although the judge acknowledged that she could have issued a bench warrant at the time, she opted to exercise discretion.
Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Turaki held the positions of Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs from 2013 to 2015, and Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity from 2014 to 2015.
