Former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadiya Farouq has asked an Abuja high court to set aside the arrest warrant issued against her in an ongoing corruption case.
Farouq, who is facing charges alongside former permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali, and Sani Mohammed, was absent from court again on Monday. However, the other two defendants were present.
Her lawyer, Oladipo Opeseyi, told the court that Farouq could not attend due to health issues and asked the judge to hear an application seeking to set aside the warrant issued on April 16.
The prosecution, led by Oluwaleke Atolagbe, opposed the request, arguing that the court could not consider the application before Farouq had been formally arraigned.
“According to the records of the court, the application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” said Atolagbe.
Opeseyi disagreed, insisting that the application was a preliminary matter that could be heard before arraignment. He argued that refusing to hear it would amount to abandoning the application.
When asked when his client would appear in court, Opeseyi said communication had been difficult because of a “10-day holiday in Egypt” and added, “We are not the medical doctor to give the conditions of her health.”
He explained that the application specifically sought to set aside the arrest warrant issued against Farouq.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie noted: “The court needs to know how to act. The court is aware that you are not the medical doctor, and neither is the court.”
The judge allowed arguments on the application. Opeseyi urged the court to revoke the warrant, while Atolagbe asked the court to reject the request and to disregard the medical reports submitted by the defence, claiming they lacked credibility.
After hearing both sides, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until June 10, when he is expected to rule on the application.
