Court declines arrest warrant against Sen. Misau

An FCT High Court in Maitama has refused the request of the Federal Government requesting the issuance of a court summons to compel Senator Isah Misau to appear before it.

A prosecutor from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Saleh H. Barkum yesterday approached the court seeking for a court summons to ensure that if Police can’t serve the senator in person, the court summons will compel his appearance in court for arraignment.

While initially asking for a date to double the FG’s effort to ensure that Misau is served with the charge filed against him, Barkum said the FG is asking for the court summons under Sections 113 & 114 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

The Chief Judge, Ishaq Bello in his chambers however refused the request. He said there was need to correct the culture of resorting to arrest at every given opportunity as the best and only way to bring a defendant to court.

“I don’t like the approach of resorting to arrest always when you can approach him and serve him in person. What efforts have you made in this regard,” he asked.

He said it is after efforts to ensure service on the defendant have been made to no avail that the prosecution can approach the court to seek for court summons to compel his appearance.

“Don’t start with hostility. Only when he refuses to appear in court after you have served him that you can approach the court for any intervention,” he said. The CJ thereafter gave between yesterday and Thursday for adequate efforts to be made to serve Misau and bring him to court.

The senator is charged for making various allegations of fraud against the Inspector General of Police.