Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, has approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court seeking to set aside an arrest warrant issued against her after repeated absences from court. The development marks another dramatic twist in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s prosecution of former officials accused of financial misconduct linked to the ministry’s operations.
By A1NEWS International | June 8, 2026
Abuja, Nigeria – The legal battle involving former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, took a fresh turn on Monday as she formally asked the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, to set aside a bench warrant issued for her arrest.
The application comes amid an ongoing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which seeks to arraign the former minister alongside former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, and another defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, over alleged financial infractions.
The matter has attracted significant public attention due to the strategic role the ministry played in managing billions of naira earmarked for humanitarian interventions, social investment programmes, and emergency relief operations during previous administrations.
COURTROOM DRAMA AS FAROUQ FAILS TO APPEAR AGAIN
When proceedings resumed on Monday before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, the former minister was once again absent from court.
Her co-defendants, however, were present for the proceedings.
Counsel to the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed the court that the first defendant had failed to appear despite previous opportunities granted by the court.
Farouq’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oladipo Opeseyi, explained that his client was unable to attend due to ongoing medical challenges.
The defence team subsequently urged the court to hear a pending application seeking to vacate the arrest warrant earlier issued against the former minister.
EFCC OPPOSES APPLICATION, INSISTS ON ARRAIGNMENT FIRST
The prosecution strongly opposed the application.
Atolagbe argued that under criminal procedure, the court could not entertain any substantive application from a defendant who had not yet been formally arraigned.
According to him, court records showed that the defence had previously assured the court that Farouq would appear if granted additional time.
He noted that despite the court’s accommodation and the issuance of a bench warrant, the former minister had still not presented herself before the court.
“The application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” the EFCC counsel insisted.
The anti-graft agency maintained that the former minister must first submit herself to the court’s jurisdiction before seeking relief from any orders issued against her.
DEFENCE ARGUES WARRANT SHOULD BE VACATED
Responding, Opeseyi disagreed with the prosecution’s position.
The senior lawyer argued that the application seeking to set aside the warrant of arrest was a preliminary issue that the court could lawfully determine before arraignment.
According to him, refusing to hear the application would effectively amount to denying the defendant access to legal remedies available under the law.
He maintained that the matter was properly before the court and ripe for adjudication.
The defence further contended that the issue of the arrest warrant directly affected the rights of the defendant and should therefore be resolved before any further proceedings.
QUESTIONS OVER MEDICAL EXCUSE
During the proceedings, Justice Onwuegbuzie sought clarification on when the former minister would be available to appear before the court.
In response, Opeseyi explained that communication with his client had been complicated by a recent holiday period in Egypt and by her medical condition.
The lawyer, however, acknowledged that he was not in a position to provide a detailed medical assessment of his client’s health status.
The judge noted that while the court understood the limitations of the defence counsel, it needed clarity to determine how best to proceed with the case.
EFCC CHALLENGES CREDIBILITY OF MEDICAL REPORTS
In a further escalation of the legal dispute, the EFCC urged the court to reject the medical documents submitted by the former minister in support of her absence.
The prosecution argued that the reports lacked sufficient credibility and should not be relied upon by the court.
This challenge could become a crucial factor in determining whether the arrest warrant remains in force or is eventually vacated.
Legal observers note that courts generally scrutinize medical excuses carefully, especially in high-profile corruption and financial crime cases involving public officials.
COURT RESERVES RULING
After listening to submissions from both parties, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned proceedings until June 10, 2026, for ruling on the application seeking to set aside the arrest warrant.
The decision is expected to determine the immediate direction of the case and clarify whether the former minister must first appear in court before any further applications can be entertained.
EFCC’S INVESTIGATION INTO HUMANITARIAN MINISTRY OPERATIONS
The prosecution forms part of wider investigations into financial transactions and expenditures within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs during the period Farouq served as minister.
The ministry managed several high-profile intervention programmes, including social investment schemes, emergency relief distributions and humanitarian support initiatives.
Over the years, anti-corruption agencies have intensified scrutiny of public spending within the ministry amid allegations of procurement irregularities and financial mismanagement.
The outcome of the current proceedings could have significant implications for ongoing accountability efforts involving former public officials.
A TEST OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND RULE OF LAW
Legal analysts view the case as an important test of Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework and judicial independence.
At the center of the dispute lies a fundamental legal question: whether a defendant who has not appeared for arraignment can successfully challenge an arrest warrant before formally submitting to the court’s jurisdiction.
The ruling expected on June 10 could provide important judicial guidance on procedural issues that frequently arise in high-profile criminal prosecutions.
The battle between former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq and the EFCC has entered a critical phase as the court prepares to rule on her request to vacate an arrest warrant issued over her repeated absence from proceedings.
With the anti-graft agency insisting on arraignment before any application can be heard and the defence arguing otherwise, the case now presents both legal and public accountability dimensions.
As Nigerians await the court’s decision, the matter continues to underscore broader concerns about transparency, public trust and the fight against corruption in public office.
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