Sadiya Farouq
Olamilekan Abayomi
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Monday, June 15, 2026, dismissed an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to set aside the bench warrant and warrant of arrest issued against her. The court held that Farouq had willfully failed to appear for her trial without a valid reason and that the law empowers the court to issue an arrest warrant when a defendant is absent from criminal proceedings.
Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed. The EFCC alleges criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million. The charges stem from her tenure as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under the Buhari administration.
The judge rejected the medical reasons presented by Farouq’s lawyers. The defence had cited arthritis and heart disease as grounds for her absence. Justice Onwuegbuzie described the explanation as “bogus” and unconvincing, asking, “Is it that there are no medical facilities in Nigeria?”. He added that there was nothing in the exhibit showing why the defendant could not appear before the court.
In his ruling, the judge stressed the difference between criminal and civil matters. “It is important that the applicant be reminded that this is a criminal matter and not a civil one and there is an approach to its proceedings. By all legal considerations, I am of the opinion that there is no merit in this application, I so hold,” he stated. The court concluded that Farouq was “trying to hide behind her fingers” with excuses.
Following the ruling, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, urged the court to enforce an earlier undertaking by defence counsel A.A. Ibrahim, SAN, to produce Farouq in court. Jacobs argued that the medical report the defence relied on had expired and asked the court to give effect to the undertaking. The judge did not immediately rule on that request but upheld the arrest warrant.
The case is part of wider EFCC investigations into the Humanitarian Affairs ministry’s social investment programs. The bench warrant had been issued earlier after Farouq failed to appear for arraignment. With the application dismissed, the former minister remains subject to arrest and is expected to be produced in court to face the charges.
The ruling reinforces the court’s stance that defendants in criminal trials must attend proceedings unless medically incapacitated to a degree that prevents appearance. Justice Onwuegbuzie noted the law empowers the court to compel attendance when a defendant who is fully aware of criminal proceedings willfully fails to appear. The trial will continue once the warrant is executed and Farouq is brought before the court.
