RismadarVoice Reporters
June 15, 2026
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has dismissed an application by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to set aside a bench warrant and warrant of arrest earlier issued against her.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie delivered the ruling on Monday, June 15, 2026, holding that Farouq failed to appear before the court without sufficient justification.
Farouq, alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie stated that the court was empowered by law to issue a warrant of arrest when a defendant deliberately fails to appear in court without a valid reason.
According to the judge, the medical documents presented by the defence, which cited arthritis and heart-related ailments, did not sufficiently explain why the former minister could not attend court proceedings.
“The defendant is fully aware that this is a criminal proceeding and has willfully failed to appear in court without a valid reason. There is nothing in the medical report showing why she cannot appear before the court. The applicant appears to be relying on excuses that lack merit,” the judge ruled.
He stressed that criminal proceedings must be treated differently from civil matters and concluded that the application lacked merit.
Reacting to the ruling, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), commended the court and urged it to enforce an earlier undertaking reportedly made by Farouq’s counsel, A.A. Ibrahim (SAN), to produce his client before the court.
Jacobs noted that the medical leave period referenced in the defence documents had already expired on June 9, 2026, and appealed to the court to ensure compliance with the undertaking to avoid the need for further coercive measures.
Responding on behalf of Ibrahim, defence counsel A.M. Lawal 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 allowed to respond on the matter.
The case was subsequently adjourned until July 2, 2026, for arraignment.
