•Sadiya Umar Farouq and EFCC headquarters, Abuja
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, yesterday threw out an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to vacate the bench warrant and arrest warrant issued against her in an ongoing case.
Farouq is standing trial alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed before the court on charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds totalling $1.3 million and ₦746.7 million.
Ruling on the application, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that the defendant had failed to appear before the court without any justifiable reason, reports Daily Independent.
He stated that, “the defendant has consistently failed to honour the processes of this court without lawful excuse,” adding that such conduct justified the issuance of a bench warrant.
The judge also rejected the medical excuse put forward by the defence, holding that the documents presented did not adequately explain her absence.
According to him, “the medical report placed before the court does not satisfactorily establish that the defendant is incapacitated to the extent of being unable to attend proceedings.”
He described the explanation as unconvincing and an attempt to delay the trial.
He further reiterated that the matter was criminal in nature and must proceed strictly in accordance with due process, stressing that there was no merit in the application before the court.
Counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, commended the ruling and told the court that “the defence had earlier given a clear undertaking to ensure the defendant’s presence in court.”
He urged the court to enforce the undertaking, insisting that the medical report being relied upon had expired and should not be used to stall proceedings.
In response, A.M. Lawal, who stood in for A.A. Ibrahim, SAN, urged the court to grant the lead counsel permission to personally appear and address the issues surrounding the alleged undertaking, arguing that “only lead counsel can properly respond to the issues raised by the prosecution in relation to the undertaking.”
After hearing the application, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request, allowing Ibrahim, SAN, to appear in court to address the matter.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to July 2, 2026, for arraignment.
