The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Monday reaffirmed the arrest warrant previously issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, in connection with an alleged $1.3 million and N746.7 million fraud case.
During proceedings, prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs reminded the court that a bench warrant had earlier been issued on April 16, 2026, to compel Farouq’s appearance.
According to Jacobs, the warrant prompted the second defendant in the case to surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in compliance with the court order.
The prosecutor urged the court to vacate the arrest warrant against the second defendant while maintaining the order against Farouq, whom he accused of repeatedly failing to honour court proceedings.
Jacobs also recalled that Farouq’s lawyer, Oladipo Okpeseyi, had previously requested one month to produce his client before the court.
He expressed disappointment that the former minister was absent despite the undertaking given by the defence team, insisting the court should compel compliance rather than entertain requests to discharge the warrant.
Responding to the court, Okpeseyi explained that Farouq was currently in Egypt undergoing medical treatment and was medically unfit to travel.
The senior lawyer told the court he received a medical report indicating that the former minister was hospitalised on the advice of doctors and would require about two months to recover before appearing in court.
However, trial judge Justice Inyang Ekwo Onwuegbuzie criticised what he described as repeated delays and attempts to frustrate the proceedings.
The judge stated that the court would not tolerate unnecessary adjournments and insisted the defence must ensure the defendant’s appearance at the next hearing regardless of her medical condition.
Justice Onwuegbuzie subsequently ruled that the arrest warrant against Farouq would remain in force and adjourned the matter until June 8, 2026, for arraignment.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recently declared the former minister wanted over allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.
In a public notice signed by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency appealed to members of the public with information about Farouq’s whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide or report to the nearest police station.
