Nigerian Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Dana Air Managing Director Over Fraud Charges
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Hathiramani Ranesh, the Managing Director of Dana Air, due to his failure to appear for trial concerning allegations of a N1.3 billion fraud. Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the warrant after it was confirmed that Ranesh had been duly notified of the charges but repeatedly failed to attend court hearings.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, represented by Mojisola-Okeya Esho, emphasized the importance of Ranesh’s appearance, stating that the defendant must be arraigned before any jurisdictional objections can be considered. The Attorney General of the Federation had filed a six-count charge against Ranesh and related companies, alleging serious fraud offenses linked to misappropriation of funds intended for the Dana Steel Rolling Factory.
Justice Egwuatu criticized Ranesh’s absence as a sign of disrespect towards the court, setting a new court date for January 13, 2025, and maintaining that he must be present to address the charges against him. The defense argued that Ranesh was out of the country and insisted on addressing jurisdictional matters first, but the court upheld its order for his arrest to ensure his attendance.
