Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Monday dismissed an application filed by a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, seeking to set aside the bench warrant and warrant of arrest earlier issued against her.
The judge ruled that Farouq failed to provide a valid reason for her absence from court and ruled that the law empowered the court to issue a bench warrant where a defendant deliberately fails to appear in a criminal proceeding, according to a statement by EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale.
Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million.
The statement said the judge faulted the former minister’s explanation for her absence and described her excuses as unconvincing.
“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.
