Court orders arrest of ex-minister Farouq over absence from trial

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Thursday ordered the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, for failing to appear for arraignment.

The trial judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, issued a bench warrant for her arrest after the prosecution informed the court that the ex-minister had repeatedly failed to attend proceedings.

The court also ordered the arrest of a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali, who is standing trial alongside the former minister.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting the defendants on a 21-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.

The EFCC alleged that the funds involved amounted to about $1.37m and ₦748m.

At the resumed hearing, counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the defendants were granted administrative bail and served with the charges.

Jacobs said, “The defendants were granted administrative bail and were duly informed of the charges against them. However, they have failed to appear before this honourable court for their arraignment.”

He further told the court that efforts to secure their attendance had proved unsuccessful, adding that only one of the defendants was present in court.

The prosecutor also drew the court’s attention to the failure of the former minister to return her international passport after being granted permission to travel abroad on medical grounds.

The first defendant has failed to return her international passport after travelling abroad on medical grounds, and no medical report has been presented before this court to justify her absence,” Jacob stated.

Counsel to the defendants, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), however, attributed his client’s absence to ill health and urged the court to consider an affidavit deposed to in that regard.

He further prayed the court to allow him to produce the first defendant in court in a period of six weeks.

But Justice Onwuegbuzie rejected the request and granted the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant.

The judge said, “In view of the failure of the defendants to appear before this court for their arraignment, the application of the prosecution is hereby granted.”

The court subsequently ordered security agencies to arrest the defendants and produce them in court for arraignment.

The matter was adjourned till May 18, 2026, for arraignment.

Farouq served as minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2019 and 2023.