By Francis Wilfred
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, has issued a warrant of arrest against a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali.
Farouq and Alkali failed to appear before the court, while only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present.
The trio are to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 21-count charge bordering on breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent award of contracts, and conversion of public funds amounting to about $1.3 million and ₦746.6 million.
The charges were read in court, after which prosecution counsel, Rotimi, informed the court that the first defendant had earlier written to the Commission, stating that she travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2024 for medical treatment. He added that her passport was released to her for the trip, but she had yet to return it, and no medical report from Saudi Arabia had been provided to date.
He further noted that although the senior counsel to the first defendant claimed she was ill, all the medical reports attached to the affidavit were issued after the charge had already been filed. He stressed that no medical report was presented at the time approval was granted for her travel or for the release of her passport.
Counsel to the first defendant, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), told the court that her absence was due to ill health and urged the court to admit an affidavit of facts he sought to tender, but the court rejected the application.
Following the rejection of all applications, the Commission prayed the court to issue a bench warrant against the first and second defendants. The application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by Celeb Peter on April 15, 2026, stating that the defendants had been granted bail but failed to report back despite being duly served with the charges.
“It is imperative for this Honourable Court to permit the Commission to arrest the first and second defendants so that they can be compelled to appear before the court,” the prosecution submitted.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the application and issued a warrant of arrest against the first and second defendants. He adjourned the matter to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and trial.
