Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has failed in her attempt to overturn a bench warrant issued for her arrest by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo.
According to TheCable, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ruled on Monday that Umar Farouq did not provide a valid reason for repeatedly failing to appear before the court in an ongoing criminal case.
The former minister is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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.
In his ruling, the judge said the defendant was fully aware of the criminal proceedings but had failed to attend court without sufficient justification. He also questioned the medical grounds presented by the defence, noting that the evidence submitted did not explain why she could not appear in court.
Justice Onwuegbuzie dismissed the application seeking to set aside the arrest warrant, describing it as lacking merit.
Following the ruling, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs urged the court to enforce an undertaking allegedly made by Umar Farouq’s lawyer, A.A. Ibrahim, to produce his client before the court.
Jacobs argued that the medical report relied upon by the defence covered a period that had already expired and asked the court to compel the former minister’s appearance at the next hearing.
Representing Ibrahim, A.M. Lawal requested that the senior advocate be allowed to personally address the court on the issue of the undertaking.
The court granted the request and adjourned the matter until July 2, 2026, for arraignment.
