Dana Air MD Arrest Warrant Fraud Case. A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, the managing director of Dana Air, following his failure to appear in court for a trial. The ruling was made by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Monday, November 4, 2024, in response to a formal application from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
During the session, Justice Egwuatu expressed concern over Ranesh’s absence and directed his question to his defense counsel, Ademola Bello. Bello explained that his client was out of the country and unable to attend. He further argued that Ranesh’s role as managing director of statutory bodies, including Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd, should first require the court to address jurisdictional issues before the trial proceeds.
However, Justice Egwuatu was not convinced by the defense’s arguments and criticized the absence as a show of disrespect to the court. Despite the defense’s attempt to invoke Section 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to delay the process, the judge pressed forward, emphasizing that Ranesh’s presence in court was mandatory.
The court ordered that Ranesh must appear in person on January 13, 2025, before any objections can be heard. This ruling comes amid a six-count charge leveled against Ranesh, Dana Group PLC, and Dana Steel Ltd, concerning a N1.3 billion fraud allegation.
The case, which has been ongoing since October 10, 2024, intensified when the AGF’s counsel, Mojisola Okeya, requested Ranesh’s arrest after he failed to show up for his arraignment. With the recent arrest order, the case has taken a significant turn, placing Ranesh and Dana Air under increasing scrutiny as the legal proceedings continue.
