Court Sustains Arrest Warrant Against Ex-Minister Sadiya Farouq
An Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has sustained the arrest warrant issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq.
The court ruled on Monday that the warrant would remain active over allegations involving the diversion of $1.3 million and N746.7 million in public funds.
Court Refuses to Vacate Arrest Warrant
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie held that the arrest warrant against Sadiya Farouq would continue to stand pending her appearance before the court.
Farouq is facing prosecution alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed in a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The charges include alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
EFCC Opposes Fresh Adjournment
During proceedings, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment.
He noted that Farouq was absent from court despite earlier assurances by her legal team that she would appear.
Jacobs asked the court to maintain the arrest warrant against Sadiya Farouq while vacating the order against the second defendant, who had reportedly surrendered to the commission.
Defence Says Farouq Is Receiving Treatment in Egypt
Farouq’s lawyer, Oladipo Okpesheyi, told the court that the former minister was in Egypt for medical treatment.
According to the defence, Farouq was declared medically unfit to travel by her doctors and would require additional time to recover.
The lawyer requested a further adjournment to enable her appearance before the court.
Judge Warns Against Trial Delays
Justice Onwuegbuzie criticised what he described as repeated attempts to delay the case.
The judge stated that the court would not tolerate unnecessary adjournments and insisted that the defendant must appear at the next sitting.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until June 8, 2026, for arraignment while sustaining the arrest warrant against Sadiya Farouq.
EFCC Declared Former Minister Wanted
The EFCC had earlier declared Farouq wanted over allegations linked to criminal conspiracy and abuse of office.
The anti-graft agency urged members of the public with useful information about her whereabouts to contact its offices nationwide or report to the nearest police station.
The arrest warrant against Sadiya Farouq remains one of the latest developments in the ongoing investigation involving alleged public fund diversion.