Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Monday, June 15, 2026, dismissed an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to set aside a bench warrant and warrant of arrest issued against her in an ongoing alleged fraud case involving $1.3 million and N746.7 million. The judge ruled that Farouq failed to provide a valid reason for her absence from court and held that the law empowers the court to issue a bench warrant where a defendant deliberately fails to appear in a criminal proceeding.
The judge faulted the former minister’s explanation for her absence, describing her excuses as unconvincing. “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 declared. He further rejected the medical grounds advanced by the defence, questioning why a defendant suffering from “mere arthritis and heart disease” could not appear before the court in Nigeria. “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,” he said.
Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million. The defendants are facing a 21‑count charge bordering on misappropriation of public funds. The bench warrant was originally issued on April 16, 2026, after Farouq failed to appear for her scheduled arraignment.
Following the ruling, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), commended the court and urged it to enforce an undertaking allegedly made by Farouq’s lead counsel, A.A. Ibrahim (SAN), to produce his client before the court. Jacobs argued that the medical report submitted by the defence only requested a six‑to‑eight‑week period for the former minister’s treatment and that the eight‑week period had expired on June 9, 2026. “If you look at the so-called medical report attached, it is only asking for the period of six and eight weeks within which the defendant will be arrested and that the eight weeks had expired on June 9, 2026,” he argued. He further stated that the anti‑graft agency was determined to execute the arrest warrant and urged the defence to cooperate by producing the former minister at the next sitting.
In response, A.M. Lawal, who appeared on behalf of A.A. Ibrahim, requested that the senior advocate be allowed to personally address the court regarding the undertaking. Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request, stating that Ibrahim should be given the opportunity to defend himself on the matter. The case was subsequently adjourned to July 2, 2026, for arraignment.
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