A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and the ministry’s former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, for failing to appear in court for their arraignment.
The presiding judge, Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court, Abuja, issued the arrest warrant following the defendants’ absence at the scheduled hearing of an alleged fraud case involving $1.3 million and N746.6 million.
The court had fixed the date for the arraignment of the two officials over accusations bordering on misappropriation and financial misconduct during their time in office.
However, their failure to attend proceedings prompted the court to take decisive action to compel their appearance.
According to court proceedings, the judge directed law enforcement agencies to arrest the defendants and present them before the court to answer to the charges filed against them.
The case is part of ongoing efforts by authorities to investigate and prosecute alleged financial irregularities within government institutions. Further proceedings are expected once the defendants are apprehended and brought before the court.
