A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting 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 arrest order issued against her in an alleged fraud case involving $1.3 million and ₦746.7 million.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, who delivered the ruling on Monday, held that Farouq failed to appear before the court without a valid reason despite being aware of the criminal proceedings against her.
Farouq, alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.
In his ruling, the judge rejected the arguments presented by the former minister’s legal team, insisting that the law empowers the court to issue a bench warrant when a defendant deliberately fails to appear in court without a justifiable excuse.
Justice Onwuegbuzie also questioned the medical grounds cited for Farouq’s absence, noting that the evidence before the court did not show why she could not appear physically despite reportedly suffering from arthritis and heart disease.
According to the judge, the court was not convinced by the reasons advanced for her absence and described the application as lacking merit.
“The defendant who is fully aware that this is a criminal proceeding has willfully failed to appear in court without a valid reason,” the judge said.
Reacting to the ruling, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), welcomed the decision and urged the court to enforce an earlier undertaking allegedly made by Farouq’s lead 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 period of six to eight weeks, which had already expired, and maintained that there was no longer any justification for Farouq’s continued absence.
In response, another member of the defence team, A.M. Lawal, requested that Ibrahim be allowed to personally address the court regarding the undertaking.
The judge granted the request and adjourned the matter until July 2, 2026, for arraignment.
Source: FCT High Court, Abuja.
