Sadiya Farouq is in Egypt, medically unfit to appear in court — Counsel

Counsel to former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has informed the court that his client is currently in Egypt receiving medical treatment and is medically unfit to appear for arraignment.

Farouq, alongside Bashir Nura Alkali, a permanent secretary in the ministry, and one Sani Mohammed, is facing a 21-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged breach of trust and abuse of office.

The anti-graft agency accused the defendants of allegedly misappropriating about $1.3 million and N746.6 million.

The charges were filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment but noted that Farouq was absent without prior notice.

He reminded the court that an arrest warrant had earlier been issued against the former minister and urged the judge to sustain the order.

According to him, the second defendant, Alkali, had already submitted himself to the commission following the earlier court order.

Responding, Farouq’s lawyer, Oladipo Okpesheyi, said he received information late Sunday night that the former minister was ill and currently hospitalised in Egypt.

He explained that medical advice indicated she would require about two months to recover before returning to Nigeria for the proceedings.

The presiding judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, criticised what he described as repeated delays in the matter and warned that the court could take further action if the defendant fails to appear at the next sitting.

The judge subsequently maintained the arrest warrant against Farouq and adjourned the case until June 8, 2026, for arraignment.

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