Kaduna — A Kaduna Chief Magistrate's Court has ordered the arrest of the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Central Workshop, Kaduna , Brigadier General A. C. Ani, for refusing to appear before the court.

Ani was taken to court by a Kaduna based car dealer, Tanimu Ibrahim and Barrister Mustapha Saidu, for allegedly refusing to pay the balance of cost of a Mercedez Benz (C-class) 230, he bought from them.

In a letter of complaint obtained from the court, the complainants said General Ani bought the car through the first accused person, Aliyu Umar Dantama, also a Kaduna based car dealer in March at the cost of N 2. 5 million. They alleged that General Ani and the first accused person only gave them N1 million.

"After the part payment, the car was given to them and they promised to pay the balance of N1.5 million at the end of May, but up to this very moment, the second accused person is yet to pay. Hence our decision to come to court," they said.

Our correspondent reports that when the case came up for hearing, the accused persons were not around and the complainant urged the court to issue a bench warrant against them.

Chief Magistrate Nasir Idris Lere granted the application and issued a bench warrant against the accused persons.

He also ordered that a copy of the bench warrant be served on the General Officer Commanding the division for the arrest of the second accused person, who is under his command. He added that the GOC should ensure that the second accused person is available on the next adjourned date.

The matter has been adjourned to August 30.