A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo has dismissed an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, seeking to nullify a bench warrant issued for her arrest.
Delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie held that the former minister failed to appear before the court without a valid justification, thereby warranting the issuance of the arrest order.
Umar-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 totaling $1.3 million and ₦746.7 million.
According to the judge, the defendant was fully aware of the criminal proceedings but deliberately failed to appear in court without sufficient reason.
“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 to issue a bench warrant of arrest when a defendant is absent without justification,” Onwuegbuzie stated.
The judge also dismissed the medical grounds advanced by the defence, noting that the documents presented did not adequately explain why the former minister could not attend court proceedings.
“There is nothing in the exhibit explaining why the defendant, who has arthritis and heart disease, cannot appear before the court. I am convinced that the first defendant is raising unfounded excuses,” he said.
Justice Onwuegbuzie subsequently ruled that the application lacked merit and declined to set aside the arrest warrant.
Following the decision, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, urged the court to enforce an undertaking allegedly made by A.A. Ibrahim, counsel to Umar-Farouq, to produce his client before the court.
Jacobs further argued that the medical report relied upon by the defence covered a period that had already expired and requested the court to compel the defendant’s appearance at the next hearing.
Responding, A.M. Lawal, who appeared on behalf of Ibrahim, asked the court to allow the senior advocate personally address the issue of the alleged undertaking.
The court granted the request and adjourned the matter until July 2 for arraignment.
