A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja has fixed June 10, 2026, to rule on an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, seeking to set aside the bench warrant issued against her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had obtained leave of court to arraign Farouq on April 16 alongside a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali, and Sani Mohammed.
However, when the matter came up on Monday, Farouq was again absent from court, while the second and third defendants were present.
Prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed the court that the former minister was not in court.
Farouq’s counsel, Oladipo Opeseyi, SAN, told the court that his client was absent on medical grounds and urged the court to hear an application seeking to set aside the warrant of arrest issued against her on April 16.
Atolagbe opposed the request, arguing that the court could not hear the application because the defendants had not yet been arraigned.
According to him, the court’s record showed that the application could only be heard after arraignment, adding that Farouq’s counsel had earlier undertaken to produce her in court.
But Opeseyi disagreed, insisting that the application was preliminary in nature and ripe for hearing under criminal procedure.
He argued that refusing to hear the application would amount to abandoning it, adding that arraignment involves the prosecution presenting an accused person before the court.
When the court asked when Farouq would be available, Opeseyi said a 10-day holiday in Egypt had made communication with his client difficult.
He also said counsel could not determine the condition of her health, as they were not medical doctors.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie noted that the court needed clarity on how to proceed, adding that neither the court nor counsel could act as medical doctors.
The judge nevertheless allowed Farouq’s application to be heard.
Arguing the application, Opeseyi urged the court to set aside the bench warrant issued against the former minister.
Opposing the application, Atolagbe urged the court to refuse it and discountenance the medical reports submitted on Farouq’s behalf, arguing that they lacked credibility.
After listening to both parties, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till June 10, 2026, for ruling on the application.