A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and a former permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali, after they failed to appear for arraignment in an ongoing criminal case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The order was issued on Thursday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie following repeated delays in the arraignment of the defendants, which the court said had stalled proceedings for months.
The EFCC had filed charges against Farouq, Alkali, and a third defendant, Sani Rabiu, over alleged offences linked to their tenure in public office.
While the defendants were expected to take their plea in 2025, their continued absence from court frustrated efforts to commence trial.
Earlier in March, the court had granted an order for substituted service, allowing court processes to be served through alternative means, including delivery to their last known addresses.
At Thursday’s resumed hearing, only the third defendant, Sani Rabiu, appeared before the court.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), subsequently urged the court to issue arrest warrants for the absent defendants, relying on Section 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Although the initial application covered all three defendants, it was later amended after Rabiu’s appearance in court.
Counsel to the former minister, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), was present in court but confirmed her absence at the proceedings.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that evidence before the court, including an affidavit confirming proper service of court documents, showed that the defendants had been duly notified.
The judge consequently ordered their arrest, stating that their failure to appear amounted to disregard for the court’s summons.
The case is part of ongoing EFCC prosecutions relating to alleged financial infractions during the defendants’ time in public office.