Court dismisses ex-minister Sadiya Farouq’s request to void arrest warrant in alleged fraud case

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo has dismissed an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, seeking to set aside a bench warrant issued for her arrest.

In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie held that the former minister failed to appear before the court and did not provide a valid reason for 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 bordering on criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and the diversion of public funds.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants are accused of misappropriating funds amounting to $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 said.

“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.”

Onwuegbuzie said the application lacked merit and declined to set aside the arrest warrant.

Following the ruling, Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the EFCC, asked the court to enforce an undertaking allegedly made by A.A. Ibrahim, counsel to the former minister, to produce his client before the court.

“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.

He added that the medical report relied upon by the defence covered a period that had already elapsed and urged the court to compel the defendant’s appearance at the next sitting.

A.M. Lawal, who appeared for Ibrahim, asked the court to allow the senior advocate to personally respond to the issue of the undertaking.

The judge granted the request and adjourned the matter until July 2 for arraignment.

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