An FCT High Court in Apo has refused to cancel the arrest warrant issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouq.
Delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie said the former minister did not provide a convincing reason for failing to appear before the court.
The judge added that the law empowers the court to issue an arrest warrant when a defendant deliberately stays away from proceedings.
Sadiya Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and the misappropriation of public funds totalling $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
In his ruling on Monday, Justice Onwuegbuzie said the court had established that the former minister was fully aware of the criminal case against her but chose not to attend the hearing without a valid excuse.
“The defendant, who is fully aware that this is a criminal proceeding, has willfully failed to appear in court without a valid reason, and the law empowers the court, when it has been ascertained that the defendant is absent from court without a valid reason, to issue a bench warrant of arrest,” the judge said.
“There is nothing in the exhibit explaining why the defendant, who has mere arthritis and heart disease, cannot appear before the court.
“Is it that there are no medical facilities in Nigeria? I am convinced that the 1st defendant is trying to hide behind her fingers by raising bogus excuses.”
Based on this, the judge ruled that her application lacked merit and declined to vacate the bench warrant earlier issued for her arrest.
Following the decision, EFCC lawyer Rotimi Jacobs urged the court to enforce an undertaking allegedly made by Umar-Farouq’s lead counsel, A.A. Ibrahim, who had reportedly promised to produce his client before the court.
“My lord, for a senior counsel to make an undertaking which is reflected in your lordship’s ruling, we crave your lordship to give effect to that undertaking,” Jacobs said.
He also argued that the medical report submitted by the defence covered a period that had already expired and asked the court to ensure the former minister appears at the next hearing.
Responding, A.M. Lawal, who represented Ibrahim in court, requested that the senior advocate be allowed to personally address the issue surrounding the alleged undertaking.a
The judge granted the request and adjourned the case until July 2 for the arraignment of the defendants.
KanyiDaily recalls that the EFCC declared Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted over allegations of conspiracy, abuse of office and the mismanagement of public funds.
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