According to him, despite the court’s reluctance to grant a lengthy adjournment under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Justice Onwuegbuzie eventually agreed following pleas from the defence team.
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Monday refused to lift the arrest warrant earlier issued against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, over alleged diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3million and N746.7million.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ruled that the bench warrant issued against the former minister on April 16, 2026, would remain in force after she again failed to appear before the court for arraignment.
Farouq is being prosecuted alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment but noted that the first defendant, Farouq, was absent without any prior explanation.
