Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has filed an application before a federal high court in Abuja seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued against her in an ongoing fraud case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The warrant was issued in April by an FCT High Court in Apo after Farouq and a co-defendant, Bashir Nura Alkali, failed to appear for arraignment.
Both, along with another defendant, Sani Mohammed, face a 21-count charge over alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and ₦746.6 million.At Monday’s proceedings, Farouq was absent, while Alkali and Mohammed were present.
Her counsel, Oladipo Okpeseyi, argued that she was unavailable due to health challenges and urged the court to vacate the warrant.
He maintained that refusing to hear the application would amount to treating it as abandoned.EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, opposed the request, insisting the application was premature since Farouq had not yet been arraigned.
He also questioned the credibility of medical reports submitted by the defense.Presiding judge Jude Onwuegbuzie allowed arguments on the application and adjourned the matter until June 10 for ruling.
The EFCC has maintained that Farouq was in Egypt receiving medical treatment, but prosecutors pressed for the warrant to remain in force to prevent delays in the case.
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