Alleged $1.3 million, N746.7 million: Court stays arrest warrant against former minister, Sadiya Farouq

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja on Monday, upheld the arrest warrant issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq on April 16, 2026.

The former Minister, along with two others, Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed will face prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in alleged cases of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million.

At Monday’s hearing, the prosecution’s attorney, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that the matter was for arraignment and stated that the first defendant did not appear in court without giving any reason.

“My Lord, we were here on April 16, 2026, when His Majesty granted us a detention warrant to arrest the first defendant. Therefore, the second defendant immediately appeared before the Commission and surrendered to comply with His Majesty’s orders. We urge Your Majesty to revoke the court warrant for the second defendant because we will submit an application for the court warrant for the first defendant to be maintained.

The Public Prosecutor further recalled that the attorney for the first defendant, Oladipo Okpesheyi, SAN requested that the court grant the first defendant one month to present the first defendant and further recalled the judge’s position that he would not deviate from the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 by granting a one month adjournment, but should grant the lengthy adjournment upon the plea application.

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“My hope this morning was that my colleague would say that his client who he promised to appear was in court today, but unfortunately he did not. I would urge your Honor to ensure that those efforts are upheld by counsel to produce his client, rather than asking the court to enforce those orders. Your Honor should not listen to them until those efforts are upheld,” he said.

When asked by the judge to state the reason why the first defendant did not appear in court, Okpesheyi told the court that he was informed last night that his client was battling health problems abroad and would not be fit to appear in court until two months’ time.

“My Lord, he is in Egypt. I understand that his doctor said he is medically unfit to attend today. There was a medical report I received on my phone last night that he was in hospital on the advice of doctors in Egypt. He will need about two months to recover before he can come. We would humbly request a postponement,” he said.

Judge Onwuegbuzie, who disliked the defense’s tactics of frustrating and delaying the trial, threatened to take further action if he did not surrender at the next hearing.

“At the last adjournment, MS Ibrahim promised the court to produce the first defendant. It is impossible to grant another adjournment. I will not tolerate unnecessary delays in my court. I will grant you a short adjournment and you will go and take him, even if he is in a wheelchair. And if he is not here, the court will do what needs to be done,” he said.

The judge decided that the arrest warrant for the first defendant was still active and adjourned the case until June 8, 2026 for the arraignment hearing.