Ex-minister Sadiya Farouq in Egypt, medically unfit for arraignment — lawyer tells court

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo on Monday was informed that former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, is currently in Egypt receiving medical treatment and is unfit to appear for arraignment.

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

The EFCC alleged that the defendants misappropriated about $1.3 million and N746.6 million in public funds.

At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) informed the court that the matter was fixed for arraignment but noted that the former minister was absent despite an earlier bench warrant issued against her.

“My lord, we were here on April 16, 2026, when your lordship granted us a bench warrant to arrest the first defendant,” Jacobs said.

He added that the second defendant later surrendered himself to the commission following the court order.

Responding, Farouq’s counsel, Oladipo Okpesheyi, told the court that his client was hospitalised in Egypt and could not travel for the proceedings.

“My lord, she is in Egypt. I learnt that her doctor said she is not medically fit to appear today,” Okpesheyi said.

“There is a medical report I received on my phone last night that she is in the hospital on doctor’s advice in Egypt.”