Former Humanitarian Minister, Sadiya Farouq, asked the court to vacate the arrest warrant

Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, on Monday asked the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court to set aside the arrest warrant issued against her.

The court on April 16 gave permission to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to try Farouq along with former Permanent Secretaries in the ministry, Bashir Alkali and Sani Mohammed, on charges of fraud.

Farouq did not appear as per court orders on Monday but two other defendants were present when their cases were summoned by court officials.

The prosecutor, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the former minister did not appear in court.

Farouq’s lawyer, Oladipo Opeseyi (SAN), told the court that his client did not appear in court due to medical challenges.

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He prayed the court to hear his plea.

However, Atolagbe rejected the request and argued that charges had not been carried out.

“According to court records, the application can only be heard after the arraignment,” he said.

He said that the attorney for the first defendant promised to present his client in court.

“I object to the prosecution’s submission saying that the application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” Opeseyi countered.

He said that the application was a preliminary application in a criminal case and was ripe for trial in accordance with the provisions of the law.

“If the court cannot try him, it is the same as abandonment. Prosecution is the prosecution that brings the suspect to court,” he said.

At that time, Judge Jude Onwuegbusie asked the first defendant’s attorney when his client would be tried.

Opeseyi answered that the 10-day holiday in Egypt made it impossible to communicate with his clients.

“Secondly, we are not doctors who provide his health condition,” added the defense attorney.

He pointed out that the request in question was for the court to set aside the arrest warrant issued against Farouq on April 16.

In his remarks, Judge Onwuegbuzie said: “The court needs to know what the facts are.

“The courts recognize that you are not a doctor, and so do the courts.”

However, the judge allowed the former minister’s application to be heard.

He then adjourned the case until June 10 to take a decision on the application.