Court rejects Sadiya Farouq’s bid to vacate arrest warrant in $1.3m fraud case

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, has dismissed an application by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to set aside a bench warrant and arrest warrant issued against her.

 

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie delivered the ruling on Monday during proceedings in a case involving alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a statement, said Farouq is expected to stand trial alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over allegations involving the diversion of about $1.3 million and N746.7 million.

 

The court held that the former minister failed to appear without sufficient justification, noting that the law empowers it to issue a bench warrant where a defendant is absent without valid reason.

 

Justice Onwuegbuzie also questioned the medical report presented by the defence, stating that it did not adequately explain why she could not appear in court.

 

Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court to enforce an earlier undertaking allegedly made by the defence to produce the former minister in court, arguing that the medical excuse had already expired.

 

In response, the defence counsel requested that senior lawyer A.A. Ibrahim (SAN) be allowed to personally address the court on the issue of the undertaking.

 

The judge granted the request and adjourned the matter to July 2, 2026, for arraignment.