Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Abuja, Nigeria — A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has escalated a high-stakes political and legal confrontation by issuing a bench warrant for the arrest of Senator Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, a senior advocate of Nigeria and the self-identified factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after repeated absences from scheduled court proceedings in a criminal matter. The court has now adjourned the case to April 22, 2026, for Turaki’s formal arraignment, marking a significant turning point in a dispute watched closely across Nigeria’s political landscape.
The order was made on Thursday, March 26, 2026, by Justice Peter Kekemeke of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, following the defendant’s failure to appear for his arraignment on a one-count charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police. The prosecution alleges that Turaki, through a petition submitted in October 2022, provided false information to the police against an individual identified as Saidi Mohammed Mainasara with the intention of misusing the police’s lawful authority to cause harm or annoyance — an offence punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code.
According to court documents, Turaki had been previously scheduled for arraignment earlier in the year, including on January 28, 2026, but the proceedings were stalled when he again failed to appear. On that occasion, his legal team cited a letter to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court seeking a transfer of the case to another judge and questioning the court’s impartiality. The judge at that hearing adjourned the matter, but no bench warrant was issued at the time.
However, the pattern of non-appearance continued into March. At the most recent hearing, prosecution counsel Usman Rabiu informed the court that despite being duly served with the charge and hearing notices, Turaki remained absent without a justifiable excuse. Rabiu asked the judge to invoke Section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, a provision that allows a court to order the arrest of a defendant who knowingly fails to attend proceedings, in order to secure their attendance for important court business — in this case, entering a plea.
The defence, led by Abdulaziz Ibrahim, SAN, opposed the prosecution’s motion, arguing that Turaki’s presence was not mandatory until the court considered a pending motion to quash the charge. The defence insisted it needed additional time to file written arguments in support of this motion, contending that the challenge to the charge’s validity should precede any arraignment. The judge rejected this position, ruling that a motion to quash cannot be heard until a defendant has been formally arraigned and entered a plea.
Justice Kekemeke stressed that the defence did not dispute receiving court notices but failed to offer any credible reason for Turaki’s absence. He described the continued failure to appear as unacceptable and tantamount to flouting the court’s authority, leaving him with no alternative but to issue a bench warrant to compel Turaki’s arrest and appearance. The judge adjourned the matter to April 22, 2026, for arraignment and further proceedings.
The unfolding legal saga comes amid a protracted leadership crisis within the PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, where rival factions have tussled over control and legitimacy for months. Turaki’s faction emerged from a National Convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, where he was elected as national chairman along with other members of the National Working Committee. This group’s ascendancy has been contested by figures aligned with former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and others loyal to Senator Samuel Anyanwu, leading to parallel claims of leadership and competing party activities around the country.
Political analysts say the court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant against such a high-profile party leader is rare and underscores the judiciary’s intention to enforce procedural compliance in criminal matters regardless of political stature. Some observers view the matter as an affirmation of the rule of law, arguing that no individual is above legal obligations, including responding to charges in court. Others caution that the case could further strain tensions within the PDP and potentially affect its unity at a time when Nigeria approaches major elections.
Supporters of Turaki’s faction have, in some regions, reaffirmed their allegiance to his leadership, even after this latest legal setback. Various state party chairmen aligned with his camp have voiced continued backing despite internal disputes, emphasizing the need for party cohesion and collective strategy moving into upcoming electoral cycles.
Conversely, critics within the party and outside it have framed the bench warrant as indicative of deeper governance and accountability issues among political elites. Some civil society and legal reform advocates note that allegations such as giving false information to the police — while often seen as administrative or lesser offences — carry serious implications when connected to perceived manipulation of law enforcement powers or attempts to influence public institutions for political ends. They say the court’s firm posture might help deter misuse of legal mechanisms for partisan goals, though others warn that only a fair and transparent adjudication will determine the integrity of the charge itself.
The implications of the case extend beyond the courtroom. The PDP’s struggle for internal legitimacy has played out publicly over the past year, including reported clashes at party headquarters and competing congresses in states across Nigeria. In November 2025, journalists covering a violent confrontation between factions were reportedly assaulted by security operatives during one such crisis at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, highlighting the sometimes turbulent nature of party politics and the risks faced by media covering such events.
For Turaki, April 22 will now become a crucial date. On that day, he will either appear before the court in obedience to the bench warrant or face further legal consequences for non-attendance. The arraignment will formally kickstart his defence against the police allegations, allowing his legal team to press procedural or substantive arguments, including the previously filed motion to quash the charge. How that motion and any follow-up evidence play out could shape not just his legal fate but also broader perceptions of justice and political accountability in Nigeria’s democratic process.
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