A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday issued an arrest warrant against the Managing Director of Dana Air, Mr. Hathiramani Ranesh, for allegedly refusing to appear in court to face trial. Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in his ruling, stated that Ranesh’s arrest was necessary due to his failure to appear in court despite being served with the charge and several proceedings having taken place.
Justice Egwuatu held that, according to Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the court has the authority to issue an arrest warrant against any defendant who fails to attend court sessions. He then adjourned the matter until Jan. 13, 2025, for 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 the Dana Air MD. Esho had argued that Ranesh refused to appear for his arraignment in the alleged N1.3 billion fraud preferred against him by the Office of the Attorney-General of Federation (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. The judge then adjourned the matter until Nov. 4 (today) for arraignment and/or hearing of preliminary objection.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) filed a six-count charge against Mr. Hathiramani Ranesh and two others. In the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2021, Ranesh and the two companies, along with others still at large, were alleged to have committed a felony between September and December 2018 at the DANA Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina.
They were accused of conspiring to remove, convert, and sell four units of industrial generators—three units Ht of 9,000 KVA and one unit of 1,000 KVA—valued at over N450 million. These assets were reportedly part of the Deed of Asset Debenture used as collateral for a bond, which remains valid. Count three alleges that the defendants and others at large conspired to fraudulently divert N864 million between April 7th and 8th, 2014, at House No. 116, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Isolo-Lagos.
The cumulative amount involved in the charge totals N1,374,300,000. Each offense is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.