Matilda Omonaiye/
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Monday dismissed an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to set aside a bench warrant and warrant of arrest earlier issued against her.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ruled that Farouq failed to appear before the court without a valid excuse, stressing that the law empowers the court to issue a bench warrant when a defendant deliberately absents herself from criminal proceedings.
Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie dismissed the medical grounds advanced by the former minister, describing them as insufficient to justify her absence from 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 said.
He further questioned why Farouq, who reportedly suffers from arthritis and heart disease, could not receive treatment in Nigeria.
“There is nothing in the exhibit explaining why the defendant who has mere arthritis and heart disease cannot appear before the court. Is it that there are no medical facilities in Nigeria? I am convinced that the 1st defendant is trying to hide behind her fingers, by raising bogus excuses,” he added.
The judge maintained that the application lacked merit and accordingly dismissed it.
Following the ruling, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, commended the court for what he described as a well-considered decision. He also urged the court to enforce an undertaking allegedly made by Farouq’s counsel, A.A. Ibrahim, SAN, to produce the former minister before the court.
Jacobs argued that the medical report attached by the defence only requested six to eight weeks for treatment, noting that the period elapsed on June 9, 2026.
He further warned that the EFCC was prepared to enforce the arrest warrant if the defendant failed to appear at the next adjourned date.
Responding, A.M. Lawal, who represented Ibrahim in court, appealed to the judge to allow Ibrahim to personally address the issue of the undertaking.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request and adjourned the matter till July 2, 2026, for arraignment.
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