A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Apo, on Thursday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, over her failure to appear for trial in an alleged fraud case.
The trial judge, Jude Onwuegbuzie, also ordered the arrest of Bashir Nura Alkali, a permanent secretary in the ministry, for the same reason.
The court granted the order following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after the defendants failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
Counsel to the anti-graft agency informed the court that all necessary steps had been taken to notify the defendants of the proceedings, but they did not present themselves in court.
Justice Onwuegbuzie subsequently ruled that the absence of the defendants was unjustified and ordered law enforcement agencies to ensure their arrest and production before the court at the next adjourned date.
The EFCC is prosecuting the defendants over allegations bordering on fraud, although details of the charges are yet to be fully disclosed in open court.
The matter was adjourned to a later date for arraignment.