ABUJA — Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to nullify a bench warrant issued for her arrest over allegations of misappropriating public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.6 million.
Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, and one Sani Mohammed on a 21-count charge bordering on alleged diversion and mismanagement of public funds.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo had earlier issued arrest warrants against Farouq and Alkali after they failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
At the latest court proceedings, the former minister was again absent, while the second and third defendants were present in court.
Counsel to the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, drew the court’s attention to Farouq’s absence and urged the court to proceed accordingly. However, counsel to the former minister, Oladipo Okpeseyi (SAN), informed the court that his client was unable to attend due to health-related challenges and requested that the court hear an application seeking to set aside the arrest warrant.
The EFCC opposed the application, arguing that such a request could not be entertained before the defendant was formally arraigned. The anti-graft agency maintained that Farouq must first submit herself to the jurisdiction of the court before seeking any relief.
Responding, Okpeseyi insisted that the application was a preliminary matter properly before the court and could be determined independently of the arraignment process.
“I object to the submission of the prosecution that the application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” the senior lawyer argued before the court.
During the hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, sought clarification on when Farouq would be available to appear before the court. Her counsel explained that communication with the former minister had been difficult due to her reported 10-day stay in Egypt for medical treatment.
“We are not the medical doctors to give the conditions of her health,” Okpeseyi told the court while defending the medical reports submitted on behalf of his client.
The EFCC, however, challenged the authenticity and reliability of the medical documents presented by the defence and urged the court to reject the application. The commission further argued that maintaining the arrest warrant was necessary to ensure the defendant’s appearance and prevent further delays in the trial.
After listening to arguments from both parties, Justice Onwuegbuzie reserved ruling on the application and adjourned the matter for a decision.
The case stems from allegations by the EFCC that Farouq and her co-defendants were involved in the unlawful handling and diversion of public funds running into approximately $1.3 million and N746.6 million during her tenure as minister.
The anti-corruption agency had earlier obtained court approval to arraign the defendants on the charges but encountered setbacks following the absence of some of the accused persons from court proceedings.
Farouq’s legal team has consistently maintained that her failure to attend court was due to medical reasons and not an attempt to evade justice. The EFCC, however, insists that the warrant should remain in force and has urged the court to ensure that the case proceeds without further delays.
The court’s forthcoming ruling on the application to set aside the arrest warrant is expected to determine the next phase of the high-profile corruption trial. :::
