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Turaki Moves to Quash Arrest Order Amid PDP Faction Tensions

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 27th, 2026.

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Tanimu Turaki (SAN), factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over his failure to appear for arraignment in a criminal case filed by the Nigeria Police Force.

Turaki, however, has moved swiftly to challenge the order, filing an appeal seeking its immediate reversal. In a statement released on Thursday through his Principal Private Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the PDP leader clarified that the case is unrelated to the party. The Punch reported that the appeal includes a request for a stay of execution of the bench warrant.

The bench warrant was issued by Justice U.P. Kekemeke, who ruled that Turaki had no valid reason for his absence in court. The former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs under the Goodluck Jonathan administration is facing a one-count charge of allegedly providing false information to the police in a petition submitted in October 2022.

The case was initially scheduled for arraignment on January 28 but was stalled due to Turaki’s absence. At the hearing, the prosecution urged the court to issue a bench warrant, citing repeated non-compliance with court summons.

Turaki’s legal team explained that his absence was due to a petition submitted to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, requesting that the case be transferred to another judge over concerns about judicial impartiality. They also noted that Turaki had a sudden hospital visit on the scheduled day and that an application to quash the charge had been filed prior to the arraignment.

Justice Kekemeke, however, ruled that filing a petition does not automatically halt criminal proceedings without a formal directive from the Chief Judge, and therefore approved the issuance of the bench warrant. The matter was adjourned for further proceedings.

In his statement, Turaki reiterated that the issue has no connection to the PDP and assured party members that his legal team is handling the matter. “External political influence cannot be completely ruled out, but we urge all party members to remain calm as the case is being properly managed,” he said.

This development was also reported by Premium Times, highlighting the procedural steps taken by Turaki to seek redress from the appellate court while maintaining his position within the party.