By Paul Joseph
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has refused to vacate the arrest warrant earlier issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, over allegations involving the diversion of $1.3 million and ₦746.7 million in public funds.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ruled on Monday that the bench warrant issued against the former minister on April 16, 2026, would remain in force following her failure to appear before the court for arraignment.
Farouq is being prosecuted alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on charges bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and misappropriation of public funds.
During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment but noted that the first defendant, Farouq, was absent without prior notice or explanation.
Jacobs reminded the court that a bench warrant had earlier been granted against the former minister after she failed to appear at the previous sitting.
According to him, the second defendant later surrendered himself to the EFCC in compliance with the court’s order, prompting the prosecution to seek the withdrawal of the warrant against him while insisting that the warrant against Farouq should remain active.
The prosecution further recalled that Farouq’s counsel, Oladipo Okpesheyi (SAN), had previously appealed to the court for one month to produce his client for arraignment.
Jacobs stated that despite the court’s initial reluctance to grant a lengthy adjournment under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the request was eventually approved after repeated pleas from the defence team.
He argued that the undertaking by the defence counsel should be enforced, insisting that the former minister ought to be produced before the court instead of seeking another delay.
Responding, Okpesheyi told the court that he was informed late Sunday night that Farouq was undergoing medical treatment in Egypt and was medically unfit to attend court proceedings.
He said medical documents sent to him indicated that she would require about two months to recover, and consequently asked the court for another adjournment.
Justice Onwuegbuzie, however, expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as repeated attempts to delay the matter.
The judge recalled that the defence had earlier assured the court that the former minister would be produced at the next adjourned date.
“I will not tolerate unnecessary adjournment in my court,” the judge warned, adding that the defendant must be brought before the court “even if she is in a wheelchair.”
The court subsequently ruled that the arrest warrant against Farouq would remain in effect and adjourned the case until June 8, 2026, for arraignment.
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