Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, has approached an Abuja High Court seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued against her in an ongoing corruption trial.
Farouq is standing trial alongside former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali, and Sani Mohammed.
While the two co-defendants were present in court on Monday, June 8, Farouq was absent once again.
Her counsel, Oladipo Opeseyi, informed the court that she was unable to attend due to health challenges and requested that the judge hear an application challenging the arrest warrant issued on April 16.
However, the prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, objected to the request, insisting that the application could not be entertained until the defendant had been formally arraigned before the court.
“According to the records of the court, the application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” said Atolagbe.
Opposing this position, Opeseyi argued that the request was a preliminary issue that the court could properly consider even before arraignment.
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He maintained that refusing to hear it would effectively deny his client fair hearing.
When pressed on why Farouq was not in court, the defence counsel explained that communication had been difficult due to what he described as a “10-day holiday in Egypt”, adding, “We are not the medical doctor to give the conditions of her health.”
The application before the court specifically seeks to nullify the arrest warrant earlier issued against the former minister.
Presiding Judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, remarked: “The court needs to know how to act. The court is aware that you are not the medical doctor, and neither is the court.”
After listening to arguments from both sides, the judge allowed the application to be heard.
Opeseyi urged the court to withdraw the arrest warrant, while the prosecution asked the court to dismiss the request and also reject the medical documents submitted by the defence, questioning their authenticity and relevance.
Atolagbe further urged the court to disregard the defence submissions entirely.
Justice Onwuegbuzie subsequently adjourned the case until June 10, when he is expected to rule on the application.