Abuja High Court Vacates Arrest Warrant Against PDP Factional Chairman Kabiru Turaki Following Voluntary Appearance

Justice Peter Kekemeke set aside the bench warrant for PDP factional chair Kabiru Turaki after he appeared in court to face false information charges.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 7:46 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Peoples Gazette

Judicial Clemency Following Voluntary Court Attendance

The Abuja High Court has opted for a path of judicial pardon regarding the procedural absence of Kabiru Turaki, a prominent political figure and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. During Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Peter Kekemeke ruled that because the defendant presented himself to the court before the bench warrant could be executed by law enforcement, the primary objective of the warrant had been achieved. This decision effectively de-escalates the immediate legal threat against Turaki, who is currently embroiled in a leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party. The court’s willingness to vacate the warrant underscores a preference for voluntary compliance over forced apprehension.

Apologies and Explanations from the Defense Counsel

The transition from a bench warrant to a pardoned absence was facilitated by a personal appeal from Turaki’s lead counsel, Chris Uche. Addressing the court, Uche expressed deep regret for his own absence and that of his client during the previous hearing, clarifying that he had only just returned to Nigeria from an international trip. The legal team emphasized that Turaki, as a senior member of the legal profession, maintains the highest regard for the judiciary and never intended to show disrespect or deliberate defiance. By offering a sincere apology and withdrawing a previous motion to stay the warrant, the defense successfully navigated the court’s concerns regarding non-compliance.

Prosecutorial Stance and the Fulfillment of Legal Compulsion

The prosecution, represented by Usman Rabiu, did not offer opposition to the defense’s request to vacate the arrest warrant. Rabiu noted that the fundamental purpose of a bench warrant is to compel a defendant's physical presence in the courtroom to answer to charges. Since Turaki appeared of his own volition, the state acknowledged that the need for a warrant had been rendered moot. While the prosecution expressed readiness to proceed with an immediate arraignment, the court determined that the existing schedule for the day made it more appropriate to delay the formal reading of the charges to a future date.