Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, has dismissed an application filed by counsel to former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to set aside the bench warrant and warrant of arrest earlier issued against her.
Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
Delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the former minister had failed to appear before the court without a valid reason and that the law empowers the court to issue a bench warrant when a defendant deliberately absents themselves from criminal proceedings.
The judge rejected the medical grounds advanced by the defence, stating that the documents before the court did not establish why the defendant could not attend proceedings.
“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 ruled.
He further questioned the claim that the defendant’s health condition prevented her appearance in court, noting that the medical report presented did not sufficiently justify her absence.
Justice Onwuegbuzie concluded that the application lacked merit and declined to set aside the warrant.
Following the ruling, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, commended the court for what he described as a well-considered decision.
Jacobs also drew the court’s attention to an undertaking allegedly made by defence counsel, A.A. Ibrahim (SAN), to produce the former minister before the court. He urged the court to enforce the undertaking and ensure the defendant’s appearance at the next hearing.
According to him, the medical report relied upon by the defence only requested a six-to-eight-week period, which had already elapsed on June 9, 2026.
He further informed the court that the EFCC had resolved to enforce the arrest warrant and appealed to the defence team to cooperate in producing their client to avoid the use of coercive measures.
Responding, A.M. Lawal, who appeared on behalf of A.A. Ibrahim (SAN), requested that Ibrahim be allowed to personally address the issue of the undertaking before the court.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request, stating that Ibrahim should be given the opportunity to defend himself regarding the undertaking attributed to him.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until July 2, 2026, for arraignment.