A Federal Capital Territory High Court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq on Thursday after she failed to appear for arraignment in a criminal case. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed the case against the ex-minister, triggering the court order when she did not show up as required.
Judge at the Federal Capital Territory High Court made the decision to issue the warrant following Farouq's absence from the scheduled court hearing. The bench warrant means law enforcement authorities now have the legal power to arrest the former minister and bring her before the court to answer the charges filed against her.
Farouq served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under the previous administration. Her role involved overseeing social welfare programmes and disaster response efforts across the country. The decision to prosecute her marks one of several cases involving former government officials that the EFCC has pursued in recent months.
The EFCC has been conducting investigations into the affairs of various former government officials following the change of administration in 2023. The commission's efforts to bring these cases to trial have resulted in multiple court appearances and proceedings. The charges against Farouq remain undisclosed in the available court documents, though her absence from the scheduled arraignment suggests the case involves matters serious enough to warrant criminal prosecution.
Farouq's legal team has not yet issued a public statement regarding the bench warrant or her failure to appear in court. The next step in the case will depend on whether she responds to the arrest warrant or makes an appearance before the court with her lawyers. The EFCC is expected to pursue the arrest warrant actively as part of its ongoing investigation into the matter.
