An FCT High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has dismissed an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, seeking to overturn a bench warrant issued for her arrest.
Delivering a ruling on Monday, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie held that the former minister failed to appear before the court without providing a satisfactory explanation, noting that the circumstances presented did not justify her absence.
Umar-Farouq is being prosecuted 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 the diversion of public funds totalling $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
“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.
The court further dismissed claims of ill health, stating, “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.” Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the application lacked merit and refused to set aside the arrest warrant earlier issued against the former minister.
During proceedings, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, urged the court to enforce an alleged undertaking by defence counsel to produce the defendant in court, insisting that the medical report presented was no longer valid.
The court adjourned the case to July 2 for arraignment after allowing defence counsel to respond to the issue of undertaking.