High Court issues arrest warrant for Dana Air MD over court non-appearance

In a dramatic turn of events, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, the Managing Director of Dana Air, following his failure to appear in court for trial.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu’s ruling on Monday underscored the seriousness of the situation, as Ranesh was previously served with charges related to an alleged fraud amounting to over N1.3 billion.

Justice Egwuatu, citing Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015, asserted that the court has the authority to issue a warrant for the arrest of any defendant who refuses to appear.

“The 1st defendant is bound to appear before the court, and if he does not, the court can issue a warrant for his arrest,” the judge stated. The court mandated that Ranesh must appear for proceedings set for January 13, 2025, before any objections can be raised.

The case stems from a request made by the Federal Government, represented by lawyer Mojisola-Okeya Esho, who had sought a bench warrant for Ranesh’s arrest due to his non-appearance at his arraignment. Esho argued that the MD’s absence from court was unjustifiable, particularly given the gravity of the charges against him.

Defending Ranesh, lawyer B. Ademola-Bello countered that they had filed a preliminary objection questioning the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

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He emphasized that the prosecution had already been informed of their position, asserting that the matter should be addressed prior to any arraignment.

Esho contested this assertion, insisting that the defendants should be arraigned before any preliminary objections could be considered. The judge subsequently adjourned the proceedings to November 4, 2024, for the arraignment and hearing of the preliminary objection.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has filed a six-count charge against Ranesh and two affiliated companies, Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd, under the charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2021.

The allegations detail serious offenses, including a conspiracy to misappropriate substantial assets from Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina between September and December 2018.

Specifically, the charges include accusations of unlawfully removing and selling industrial generators valued at over N450 million and diverting N864 million intended for factory operations to unauthorized uses.

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The cumulative total of the fraudulent activities outlined in the charges exceeds N1.37 billion, all of which fall under the purview of the Criminal Code Act.

As the proceedings unfolded, Justice Egwuatu expressed frustration over the absence of the defendants, questioning the respect shown to the court when key individuals failed to appear.

Ademola-Bello informed the court that Ranesh was currently out of the country, while the other two defendants, being corporate entities, could not represent themselves.

In light of these developments, Justice Egwuatu’s ruling marks a significant step in the ongoing legal battle involving Dana Air’s management, as the court seeks to ensure accountability and adherence to judicial proceedings.

The next court date is set for January 13, 2025, when Ranesh is expected to appear in response to the serious allegations against him.