Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Monday, May 18, 2026, sustained the arrest warrant he issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, on April 16, 2026.
The former minister, alongside two others — Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed — is to face prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds to the tune of $1.3 million and ₦746.7 million.
At Monday’s proceedings, counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and noted that the first defendant was absent without any explanation.
“My Lord, we were here on April 16, 2026, when Your Lordship granted us a bench warrant to arrest the first defendant. It was because of that order that the second defendant immediately approached the Commission and surrendered himself in obedience to Your Lordship’s directive. We urge Your Lordship to vacate the bench warrant against the second defendant, while sustaining the warrant against the first defendant,” he said.
The prosecution counsel further recalled that counsel to the first defendant, Oladipo Okpeseyi, SAN, had pleaded with the court to grant one month to produce his client. He also noted that the judge had maintained that he would not deviate from the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, by granting such a lengthy adjournment, but later allowed additional time following the defence’s plea.
“My expectation this morning was for my learned colleague to say that his client, whom he promised to produce, is in court today, but alas, he did not do so. I urge Your Lordship to ensure that the undertaking is enforced and that counsel produces his client, instead of asking the court to discharge the order. My Lord should not listen to them until the undertaking is fulfilled,” he said.
When asked by the judge to explain the absence of the first defendant, Okpeseyi told the court that he was informed the previous night that his client was battling a health issue abroad and would not be fit to appear in court for another two months.
“My Lord, she is in Egypt. I learnt that her doctor said she is not medically fit to appear today. There is a medical report I received on my phone last night indicating that she is in the hospital on doctor’s advice in Egypt. She will need about two months to recover before she can return. We humbly ask for an adjournment,” he said.
Justice Onwuegbuzie, who frowned at what he described as tactics aimed at frustrating and stalling the trial, threatened further action if the defendant failed to appear at the next proceedings.
“At the last adjournment, M.S. Ibrahim promised the court to produce the first defendant. It will be impossible to grant another adjournment. I will not tolerate unnecessary delays in my court. I will give you a short adjournment, and you will go and bring her, even if she is in a wheelchair. If she is not here, the court will do what it needs to do,” he said.
The judge held that the arrest warrant against the first defendant remained active and adjourned the matter until June 8, 2026, for arraignment.
