JUSTICE Jude Onwuegbuzie of an Abuja High Court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq.
The judge also ordered for the arrest of Bashir Alkali, a former permanent secretary in the same ministry.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed charges against the former minister, who served in the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari, Alkali and Sani Rabiu.
They were to be arraigned sometimes in 2025 but the arraignment could not hold due to the absence of the defendants in court.
On March 23 Justice Onwuegbuzie ordered substituted service on them and directed the EFCC to paste the charge on their known addresses.
At the resumed sitting, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, informed the court of an exparte application by the prosecution seeking warrant of arrest for Farouq and Alkali.
The application, according to Jacobs, was brought pursuant to Section 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Jacobs, however, amended the application in view of the fact that Rabiu, was present in court.
Abdul Ibrahim SAN appeared for the former minister
Ruling, the court noted that Exhibit SF1 attached to the affidavit in support of the application is an affidavit of service of the charge on the defendants as directed by the court at the last sitting.
Having been satisfied that the former minister and the second defendant refused to appear before the court after service, Justice Onwuegbuzie subsequently issued bench warrant for the arrest of the first and second defendant.
He then adjourned the matter until May 18 for arraignment. (NAN)
