A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja has vacated the arrest warrant earlier issued against the factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kabiru Turaki, following his appearance before the court on Wednesday.
Presiding Judge, Justice Peter Kekemeke, set aside the bench warrant after Turaki appeared in court and his counsel, Chris Uche, orally requested that the order be withdrawn.
The court had issued the arrest warrant on March 26 after Turaki failed to attend his scheduled arraignment in a one-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force under the direction of the Inspector-General of Police.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, the defence counsel apologised for his earlier absence, explaining that he had been outside the country at the time of the previous sitting.
“I sincerely apologise to the court for my absence at the last sitting. I only returned to the country earlier today and came straight to court,” Uche said.
He also tendered an apology on behalf of his client, assuring the court that Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had no intention of disrespecting judicial proceedings.
“He holds this court in the highest regard, and his absence was neither intentional nor deliberate,” the lawyer added.
Uche further informed the court that he was withdrawing a motion earlier filed to suspend the arrest warrant, noting that the defendant was now ready to take his plea.
Counsel to the prosecution, Usman Rabiu, did not oppose the application, stating that the purpose of the warrant had already been achieved.
“Since the defendant is present in court, we are not opposing the application for him to be arraigned today,” Rabiu told the court.
In his ruling, Justice Kekemeke observed that Turaki had voluntarily appeared before the court before the warrant could be enforced. While the judge noted that the explanation for the earlier absence was not entirely satisfactory, he held that discretion would be exercised in favour of the defendant.
“The court is satisfied that the defendant has now appeared, and the purpose of the warrant has been served,” the judge ruled.
Consequently, the arrest warrant was vacated.
However, the court declined to proceed with the arraignment, explaining that the matter had initially been scheduled for hearing of a motion seeking a stay of execution of the warrant.
Following the withdrawal of the application by the defence and no objection from the prosecution, the court struck out the motion.
Justice Kekemeke subsequently adjourned the case until April 22, 2026, for Turaki’s arraignment on the charge marked CR/647/2026, which alleges that he provided false information to the authorities.
The court had previously ordered security agencies to arrest and produce him after he failed to appear at an earlier sitting, but that order was discharged following his voluntary appearance.
