A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against the Managing Director of Dana Air, Hathiramani Ranesh, over his refusal to appear in court for trial.
The presiding judge, Obiora Egwuatu, issued the warrant on Monday while ruling on an application brought by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, against the defunct airline’s MD.
The AGF had filed six counts against Ranesh and two others.
In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2021, Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Limited are joined as second and third defendants, respectively.
Recall On October 10, the AGF’s counsel, Mojisola Okeya, made an oral application for Ranesh’s arrest over his refusal to appear for his arraignment in the alleged N1.3bn fraud case.
“Why are the defendants absent?” Egwuatu asked about Ranesh’s whereabouts from his lawyer, Ademola Bello.
The defence lawyer replied that he (Ranesh) was not in the country, adding that the other two defendants are statutory bodies of which Ranesh is their MD.
The counsel further said the jurisdictional issues raised in their preliminary objection should first be addressed.
