A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Apo has dismissed an application filed by Sadiya Umar-Farouq, former minister of humanitarian affairs, seeking to set aside a bench warrant issued for her arrest.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Jude Onwuegbuzie, the presiding judge, held that the former minister failed to appear before the court without providing a valid reason.
Umar-Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
“The defendant, who is fully aware that this is a criminal proceeding, has willfully failed to appear in court without a valid reason, and the law empowers the court, when it has been ascertained that the defendant is absent from court without a valid reason, to issue a bench warrant of arrest,” the judge said.
“There is nothing in the exhibit explaining why the defendant, who has mere arthritis and heart disease, cannot appear before the court.
“Is it that there are no medical facilities in Nigeria? I am convinced that the 1st defendant is trying to hide behind her fingers by raising bogus excuses.”
The judge ruled that the application lacked merit and refused to vacate the arrest warrant.
Following the ruling, Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the EFCC, urged the court to enforce an undertaking allegedly made by A.A. Ibrahim, counsel to the former minister, to produce her before the court.
“My lord, for a senior counsel to make an undertaking which is reflected in your lordship’s ruling, we crave your lordship to give effect to that undertaking,” Jacobs said.
He also argued that the medical report presented by the defence had expired and asked the court to compel the defendant’s appearance at the next hearing.
A.M. Lawal, appearing for Ibrahim, requested that the senior advocate be allowed to personally respond to the issue of the undertaking.
The judge granted the request and adjourned the matter until July 2 for arraignment.