Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has sustained the arrest warrant earlier issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
The warrant, initially issued on April 16, 2026, remains active as the former minister, alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed, is expected to face prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the alleged diversion of $1.3 million and ₦746.7 million.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment but noted that the first defendant was absent without any prior explanation.
Jacobs reminded the court that the earlier arrest warrant prompted the second defendant to surrender to the Commission and urged the court to sustain the order against Farouq while lifting it for the second defendant.
He also recalled that the defence had previously sought time to produce the former minister and argued that the undertaking should be enforced.
Counsel to Farouq, Oladipo Okpesheyi, SAN, however informed the court that his client was currently in Egypt receiving medical treatment and was medically unfit to appear.
According to him, information received from her doctors indicated she may require up to two months before she could return and attend proceedings.
Justice Onwuegbuzie, however, expressed dissatisfaction over repeated delays and warned against attempts to frustrate the judicial process.
The judge stated that the court would not tolerate unnecessary adjournments and insisted that the defendant must appear at the next hearing regardless of circumstances.
He subsequently upheld the arrest warrant and adjourned the matter until June 8, 2026, for arraignment.
