Court lets police reopen false information case against PDP's Turaki

The police have been handed a fresh opportunity to strengthen their case against Tanimu Turaki, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria who leads one faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as national chairman. On Monday, Justice Peter Kekemeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, approved a request from the prosecution to reopen its case and bring in additional witnesses, Naija News reported.

The ruling stands out because the prosecution had already rested. According to the report, the police wrapped up their side of the trial on June 18, 2026, having put just one witness forward.

What Turaki is charged with

Turaki faces a single count brought by the Office of the Inspector-General of Police. The charge accuses him of supplying false information in a petition he had earlier submitted to the police. He has denied the allegation, and nothing has been proven against him in court.

In April, the court admitted the senior lawyer to bail in the sum of ₦100 million, with one surety required to stand for the same amount.

How the case was reopened

The push to reopen came in October, when police counsel Usman Aliyu went back to the court asking for permission to present more witnesses and fresh evidence. Turaki's lawyer, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, fought the application.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Kekemeke sided with the prosecution, holding that the request had merit, and gave the police leave to call the extra witnesses.

There was a catch, though. Right after winning the application, Aliyu informed the court that not one of the new witnesses was present, and he asked for more time to bring them. The judge then adjourned the matter to January 27, 2027.

What happens next

The adjournment means Turaki's trial will roll into the new year, with the prosecution expected to produce its additional witnesses when the court sits again in late January. The report did not name the new witnesses, say what they are expected to tell the court, or describe what the petition at the centre of the charge contained.

For now, the case remains an allegation being tested in court. Turaki has maintained his denial, and it will be for the judge to decide whether the evidence, old and new, supports the charge.