$1.3m, N746m fraud case: Sadiya Farouq asks court to set aside bench warrant

Sadiya Umar Farouq, former minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development has asked a federal high court in Abuja to revoke the bench warrant issued for her arrest in an ongoing fraud case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Farouq is facing trial alongside Bashir Nura Alkali, a former permanent secretary in the ministry and another defendant over allegations involving the misappropriation of public funds amounting to about $1.3 million and N746.6 million.

At Monday’s proceedings, the former minister was absent from court, while the other defendants were present.

Oladipo Okpeseyi, her lawyer informed the court that Farouq could not attend because of health-related challenges and urged the court to hear an application seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued against her.

However, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, a counsel to the EFCC opposed the request, arguing that the application was premature since the former minister had not yet been arraigned before the court.

According to the anti-graft agency, the court should not entertain the application until the defendant formally appears and takes her plea.

Okpeseyi disagreed with the prosecution’s position, maintaining that the application was properly before the court and qualified as a preliminary issue that could be determined ahead of arraignment.

The defence counsel further argued that refusing to hear the application would amount to treating it as abandoned.

During the proceedings, the presiding judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, sought clarification on when Farouq would be available to appear before the court. Responding, her lawyer said communication with the former minister had been difficult because she was reportedly on a 10-day holiday in Egypt and receiving medical attention.

He added that the defence team was not in a position to provide detailed medical explanations regarding her condition.

After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Onwuegbuzie allowed the application to be argued and subsequently reserved ruling on the matter.

The court adjourned the case until June 10 for a decision on whether the arrest warrant should remain in force.

The warrant was initially issued after Farouq failed to appear for her scheduled arraignment, prompting the EFCC to seek the court’s intervention to compel her appearance. The anti-corruption agency has insisted that the case should proceed without unnecessary delays.