Court Dismisses Application by Ex-Minister Sadiya Farouq, Upholds Bench Warrant in ₦1.3m, $746m Fraud Case

Court Dismisses Application by Ex-Minister Sadiya Farouq, Upholds Bench Warrant in ₦1.3m, $746m Fraud Case

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Monday, June 15, 2026, dismissed an application filed by counsel to former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to set aside a bench warrant and arrest order previously issued against her.

Farouq, alongside two co-defendants—Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed—is being prosecuted 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 ₦746.7 million.

Delivering ruling, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie held that the former minister had failed to provide a valid justification for her repeated absence from court, despite being aware of the ongoing criminal proceedings.

The judge noted that the court is empowered by law to issue a bench warrant where a defendant wilfully absents themselves without reasonable cause, stressing that the explanations presented, including claims of ill health, were insufficient.

“There is nothing in the exhibit explaining why the defendant who has mere arthritis and heart disease cannot appear before the court… the applicant is trying to hide behind her fingers by raising bogus excuses,” the judge stated.

Justice Onwuegbuzie added that criminal proceedings require strict compliance with court processes, and warned that such cases cannot be treated with the same latitude as civil matters. He consequently ruled that the application lacked merit.

Counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), commended the court for its decision and urged it to enforce the earlier undertaking by defence counsel, A.A. Ibrahim (SAN), to produce the defendant in court.

Jacobs further argued that the medical documents submitted were insufficient to excuse the defendant’s absence, noting that the period covered by the medical report had already expired on June 9, 2026.

In response, counsel appearing for the defence, A.M. Lawal, requested that A.A. Ibrahim (SAN) be allowed to personally appear in court to address the issue of the alleged undertaking.

The court granted the request and adjourned the matter to July 2, 2026, for arraignment.

Court Dismisses Application by Ex-Minister Sadiya Farouq, Upholds Bench Warrant in ₦1.3m, $746m Fraud Case