Turaki Appeals Bench Warrant Charge

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, yesterday issued a bench warrant against chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kabiru Turaki, over alleged false information provided to the police in a 2022 petition.

The warrant was issued following Turaki’s absence in court when the matter was called.

However, Turaki, in a press statement signed by his Ibrahim Abdullahi, Principal Private Secretary,  said he wrote the petition in his capacity as a private citizen in 2022, while the charge arising from it was only filed in court on Thursday.

Turaki, in the statement, said his absence was due to a sudden hospital visit, adding that his legal team had already filed an application seeking to quash the charge, which ordinarily would not require his physical presence in court.

“With the issuance of the bench warrant, his lawyers have immediately filed an appeal and an application for a stay of execution of the order,” he said.

He further clarified that the matter is not connected to the Peoples Democratic Party or any of its current affairs, although it noted that “external political influence cannot be completely ruled out.”

He urged party members to remain calm, assuring that Turaki’s legal team is taking appropriate steps to address the situation.