Court Fixes Date For Ruling As Buhari’s Former Minister Seeks To Cancel Arrest Warrant

Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, on Monday asked an Abuja High Court to set aside a bench warrant issued against her.

Naija News reports that the court had earlier granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leave to arraign Farouq on April 16 alongside former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali, and Sani Mohammed.

Farouq was, however, absent from court again on Monday, while the second and third defendants were present.

Prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed the court that the first defendant was not present.

Farouq’s counsel, Oladipo Opeseyi, SAN, told the court that his client was absent due to medical challenges and urged the court to hear his application seeking to set aside the warrant.

Atolagbe objected, arguing that the application could not be heard because the arraignment had not taken place.

According to him, the defence had earlier promised to produce Farouq in court.

Opeseyi disagreed, insisting that the application was a preliminary motion in a criminal matter and was ripe for hearing.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie asked the defence when Farouq would appear in court.

Opeseyi said communication with his client had been difficult because of a 10-day holiday in Egypt, adding that the defence could not determine the full condition of her health since they were not medical doctors.

The judge later allowed the application to be heard.

Arguing the motion, Farouq’s counsel urged the court to set aside the arrest warrant issued on April 16.

The EFCC opposed the application and asked the court to discountenance the medical reports submitted by the defence, claiming they lacked credibility.

After listening to both sides, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until June 10 for ruling.