A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench arrest against the managing director (MD) of Dana Air Hathiramani Ranesh over non-appearance in court for trial.
Mr Ranesh, Dana Group Plc and Dana Steel Ltd and others are facing a six-count charge of fraud.
In count one, Ranesh and the two companies, alongside others at large, were alleged to have committed a felony between September and December 2018 within the premises of DANA Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina.
They were alleged to have conspired to remove, convert and sell four units of industrial generators “i.e. three (3) units Ht of 9,000 KVA and 1 unit of 1,000 KVA; all valued at over N450 million, which form part of the Deed of Asset Debenture that were charged as collateral security for a bond issued in your favour, which Deed is still subsisting at all material times.”
Ruling on Monday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu said Ranesh’s arrest was necessary following his refusal to appear in court after he was served with the charge and several proceedings taken in the matter.
“The defendant shall appear before this court on 13th of January, 2025, before any objection can be taken,” he said.
On October 10, the Federal Government through its lawyer Mojisola-Okeya Esho asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Ranesh’s arrest.
Esho 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 the federation (AGF).
But the defence lawyer B. Ademola-Bello argued that he filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.