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<p>By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa</p><div class="PQbqE7te" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>Sadiya Farouq, a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, on Monday prayed an Abuja High Court to set aside a bench warrant issued against her.</p>
<p>The court had granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leave to arraign Ms Farouq on April 16, alongside a former permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali and Sani Mohammed.</p>
<p>Again, Ms Farouq failed to appear as ordered by the court, but both the second and third accused persons were present.</p><div class="aa4Xa0PF" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>The Prosecution Counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the first defendant was absent.</p>
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<p>Ms Farouq’s counsel, Oladipo Opeseyi, SAN, told the court that his client was not in court on medical grounds.</p>
<p>He prayed that the court hear his application.</p>
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<p>Mr Atolagbe, however, objected to the request, arguing that the arraignment had not been done.</p>
<p>“According to the records of the court, the application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” he said.</p>
<p>He said that the first defendant’s counsel promised to produce his client.</p>
<p>“I object to the submission of the prosecution, saying the application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” Mr Opeseyi said.</p>
<p>He said the application was preliminary in a criminal matter and was ripe for hearing under the law.</p>
<p>“If the court cannot hear it, it is tantamount to abandonment. An arraignment is the prosecution presenting the accused person to the court,” he said.</p>
<p>At this juncture, the court asked the first defendant’s counsel when his client would be in court.</p>
<p>In response, Mr Opeseyi told the court that the 10-day holiday in Egypt made it impossible to communicate with his client.</p>
<p>Secondly, he said, “We are not the medical doctors to give the conditions of her health.”</p>
<p>He further stated that the application in question sought that the court set aside the warrant of arrest issued against the first defendant on April 16.</p>
<p>Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie said, “The court needs to know how to act.</p>
<p>“The court is aware that you are not the medical doctor and neither is the court”.</p>
<p>The judge, however, allowed the first defendant‘s application to be heard.</p>
<p>The first defendant’s counsel, Mr Oluseyi, argued his application, urging the court to grant it and set aside the warrant of arrest issued on his client.</p>
<p>Opposing the application, Mr Atolagbe urged the court not to grant the application.</p>
<p>In addition, he urged the court to discountenance all the medical reports submitted by the first defendant, because they lacked credibility.</p>
<p>Justice Onwuegbuzie, after listening to the submissions, adjourned until June 10 to rule on the application.</p>
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