The 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 earlier issued against her.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie during proceedings in a case involving alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
The development was disclosed in a statement posted on the official page of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Farouq is expected to stand trial alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over allegations involving the diversion of about $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the former minister failed to appear before the court without sufficient justification, adding that the law empowers the court to issue a warrant of arrest where a defendant is absent without a valid reason.
“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.
The judge also questioned the medical report presented by the defence, noting that the documents before it did not show why the defendant could not appear in court.
Following the ruling, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, urged the court to enforce an earlier undertaking allegedly made by defence counsel, A.A. Ibrahim, SAN, to produce the former minister in court.
Jacobs argued that the period referenced in the medical report submitted by the defence had already expired and requested the court to compel compliance with the undertaking.
“My lord, for a senior counsel to make an undertaking which is reflected in your lordship’s ruling, we crave your lordship to give effect to that undertaking,” Jacobs said.
In response, A.M. Lawal, who represented Ibrahim, asked the court to allow the senior lawyer to personally address the issue of the undertaking.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request and held that Ibrahim should be given the opportunity to respond.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to July 2, 2026, for arraignment.
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