A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has ordered 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, over their failure to appear for arraignment in an ongoing criminal case.
The bench warrant was issued on Thursday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the case.
The anti-graft agency had filed charges against Farouq, Alkali and a third defendant, Sani Rabiu, over alleged offences linked to their time in public office. However, efforts to arraign the defendants have been repeatedly stalled due to their absence in court.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that despite an earlier order for substituted service, the former minister and the second defendant failed to honour the court’s summons. The order, granted on March 23, allowed the charges to be served by posting them at the defendants’ last known addresses.
Jacobs subsequently urged the court to issue a bench warrant pursuant to Section 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. The application was, however, amended after Rabiu appeared in court.
Counsel to the former minister, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), was present in court, but his client’s absence, alongside that of Alkali, prompted the prosecution’s request.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that there was sufficient proof that the defendants had been duly served, citing an affidavit of service presented before the court. He ruled that their continued absence justified the issuance of arrest warrants.
The judge thereafter ordered security agencies to produce Farouq and Alkali in court and adjourned the matter until May 18 for arraignment.
The case adds to mounting scrutiny of officials who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, particularly in relation to the management of public funds in key government programmes.
Leave a Reply