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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, has dismissed an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to set aside a bench warrant and warrant of arrest issued against her in an ongoing alleged fraud case involving $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, in a ruling delivered on Monday, held that Farouq had failed to appear before the court without a valid reason, thereby justifying the issuance of the warrant.
Farouq is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.
Justice Onwuegbuzie stated that the defendant was fully aware of the criminal proceedings but deliberately failed to appear in court.
“The defendant who is fully aware that this is a criminal proceeding has willfully failed to appear in court without a valid reason and the law empowers the court when it has been ascertained that the defendant is absent from court without a valid reason to issue a bench warrant of arrest.”
The judge further questioned the medical grounds advanced by the former minister, noting that the documents before the court did not sufficiently explain why she could not attend proceedings in Nigeria despite suffering from arthritis and heart disease.
“There is nothing in the exhibit explaining why the defendant who has mere arthritis and heart disease cannot appear before the court.
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“Is it that there are no medical facilities in Nigeria? I am convinced that the first defendant is trying to hide behind her fingers by raising bogus excuses,” the judge added.
Following the ruling, Economy and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, commended the court and urged it to enforce an earlier undertaking reportedly made by Farouq’s counsel, A.A. Ibrahim, SAN, to produce his client before the court.
Jacobs argued that the medical report submitted by the defence only requested a six-to-eight-week period, which had already elapsed on June 9, 2026.
He informed the court that the anti-graft agency was determined to execute the arrest warrant and urged the defence to cooperate by producing the former minister at the next sitting.
In response, A.M. Lawal, who appeared on behalf of Ibrahim, requested that the senior advocate be allowed to personally address the court regarding the undertaking.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request, stating that Ibrahim should be given the opportunity to defend himself on the issue.
The case was subsequently adjourned to July 2, 2026, for arraignment.
