Nigeria, June 16 -- An FCT High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has dismissed an application filed by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, seeking to vacate a bench warrant issued for her arrest.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, who delivered the ruling on Monday, held that the former minister failed to appear before the court without a valid excuse.

Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed on allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and the diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and N746.7 million.

According to the judge, the court is empowered by law to issue a bench warrant when a defendant de...