Court orders arrest of Dana Group MD over ‘N1.3bn fraud’

A federal high court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant against Hathiramani Ranesh, managing director of Dana Group, over his refusal to appear in court for trial.

Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, issued the arrest warrant on Monday while ruling on an application brought by the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

“Why are the defendants absent,” Egwuatu asked about the Ranesh’s whereabouts from his lawyer, Ademola Bello.

The defence lawyer said he was not in the country, adding that the other two defendants are statutory bodies of which Ranesh is their managing director.

Bello said the jurisdictional issues raised in their preliminary objection should first be addressed.

“Are we playing here? Where is the respect for the court when the people you are defending are not in court?,” the judge asked.

However, the lawyer responded with section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

“We urge the court to be guided by this provision,” he said.

Egwuatu ordered that Ranesh be arrested and brought to the court on the next adjourned date.

“The 1st defendant is bound to appear before the court and if he does not, the court can issue a warrant for his arrest,” Egwuatu said.

“Accordingly relying on the said provision, I hereby issued a warrant of arrest for the arrest of the 1st defendant.

“The defendant shall appear before this court on the 13th of January, 2025, before any objection can be taken.”

The AGF had filed a six-count charge against Ranesh and two others.

In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/101/2021, Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd are joined as second and third defendants, respectively.

On October 10, Mojisola Okeya, counsel to the AGF, made an oral application for Ranesh’s arrest over his refusal to appear for his arraignment in the alleged N1.3 billion fraud case.