Late Ex-President Buhari’s minister seeks court order to nullify arrest warrant in alleged $1.3m, N746m fraud case
Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to overturn the bench warrant issued for her arrest in a case involving alleged misappropriation of $1.3 million and N746.6 million.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Farouq alongside Bashir Nura Alkali, a permanent secretary in the ministry, and Sani Mohammed over a 21-count charge related to the alleged diversion of public funds.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo had earlier issued arrest warrants against Farouq and Alkali after they failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
At Monday’s proceedings, Farouq was absent from court, while the second and third defendants were present.
Counsel to the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed the court of Farouq’s absence, while her lawyer, Oladipo Okpeseyi, explained that she was unable to attend due to health challenges and urged the court to hear an application seeking to set aside the arrest warrant.
The EFCC opposed the request, arguing that such an application could not be entertained before the defendant was formally arraigned. However, Okpeseyi maintained that the motion was a preliminary application and was properly before the court.
“I object to the submission of the prosecution, saying the application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” he argued.
During the proceedings, the presiding judge, Jude Onwuegbuzie, asked when the former minister would be available to appear in court. Okpeseyi responded that communication had been difficult due to her 10-day stay in Egypt and noted that “we are not the medical doctors to give the conditions of her health”.
The judge subsequently allowed arguments on the application, with Farouq’s lawyer urging the court to revoke the arrest warrant issued on April 16, while the EFCC asked the court to dismiss the request and disregard the medical reports submitted by the defence, questioning their credibility.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until June 10 for a ruling on the application.
The EFCC had earlier secured court approval to arraign Farouq and her co-defendants over allegations involving approximately $1.3 million and N746.6 million. The arrest warrant was issued after the former minister failed to appear in court, with her legal team stating that she was receiving medical treatment in Egypt and was unfit to attend proceedings.
The anti-graft agency has insisted that the warrant should remain in force, arguing that the case should not suffer further delays.