Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has asked an Abuja High Court to nullify the bench warrant issued for her arrest, with the court set to deliver its ruling on June 10.
The request was made during proceedings on Monday before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier obtained permission from the court to arraign Farouq alongside the ministry’s former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Alkali, and Sani Mohammed on April 16.
While Alkali and Mohammed were present in court on Monday, Farouq was absent once again.
Counsel to the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed the court that the former minister was not in attendance. In response, Farouq’s lawyer, Oladipo Opeseyi (SAN), explained that his client was unable to appear due to health-related issues and urged the court to consider an application seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued against her.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the application could not be entertained before the defendants had been formally arraigned. Atolagbe also reminded the court that the defence had previously assured that Farouq would be produced for the hearing.
However, Opeseyi maintained that the application was a preliminary motion in a criminal case and was properly before the court for consideration.
During the proceedings, Justice Onwuegbuzie sought clarification on when the former minister would be available to appear in court. The defence counsel stated that communication with Farouq had been challenging because she was on a 10-day holiday in Egypt. He further noted that the legal team could not fully assess her medical condition, as they were not healthcare professionals.
The court subsequently allowed arguments on the application.
Presenting the motion, Opeseyi urged the court to revoke the bench warrant issued on April 16. The EFCC opposed the request and challenged the authenticity and reliability of the medical reports submitted by the defence, urging the court to disregard them.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until June 10, 2026, when he is expected to rule on Farouq’s application to set aside the arrest warrant.
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