Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, issued an arrest warrant against the Managing Director (MD) of Dana Air, Mr Hathiramani Ranesh over alleged refusal to appear in court to stand trial.

The Attorney-general of the federation (AGF) filed a six-count charge against Ranesh and two others.

In the charge filed by Moshood Adeyemi, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the office of the AGF and Minister of Justice, Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd were joined as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

Justice Egwuatu, in a ruling, held that the arrest of Ranesh was necessary following his refusal to appear in court after he was served with the charge and several proceedings taken in the matter.

The court held that in line with Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the court can issue an arrest warrant against any defendant who refused to appear in court.

He said the 1st defendant is bound to appear before the court and if he does not, the court can be issued a warrant for his arrest.

“Accordingly relying on the said provision, I hereby issued a warrant of arrest for the arrest of the 1st defendant,” he said.

“The defendant shall appear before this court on 13th of January, 2025, before any objection can be taken.”

The judge then adjourned the matter until Jan. 13, 2025, for a hearing.

The Federal Government, through its lawyer, Mojisola-Okeya Esho, had, on Oct. 10, prayed the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Dana Air.

Esho had argued that Ranesh had refused to appear for his arraignment in the alleged N1.3 billion fraud preferred against him by the Office of the AGF.

But the defence lawyer, B. Ademola-Bello, disagreed with Esho.

He argued that they had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter and that the prosecution had already been served.

Esho, on her part, objected to taking the preliminary objection on the ground that the defendants ought to be arraigned first before the court could entertain any other application.

The judge then adjourned the matter until Nov. 4 (today) for arraignment and/or hearing of preliminary objection.