Counsel to former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, Oladipo Okpesheyi, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo that his client is in Egypt and medically unfit to appear for arraignment.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Farouq, Bashir Nura Alkali, a permanent secretary in the ministry, and Sani Mohammed are facing a 21-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges border on alleged breach of trust and abuse of office involving about $1.3 million and ₦746.6 million.
At Monday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said the matter was fixed for arraignment, but Farouq was absent.
“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 had since surrendered to the commission and asked the court to lift the warrant against him while sustaining that of Farouq.
Okpesheyi told the court that Farouq was receiving medical care in Egypt.
He stated, “My lord, she is in Egypt. I learnt that her doctor said she is not medically fit to appear today. There is a medical report I received on my phone last night that she is in the hospital on doctor’s advice in Egypt.
“She will need about two months to recover before she can come. We will be humbly asking for an adjournment.”
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie criticised the delay and warned that further action could be taken if Farouq failed to appear at the next sitting.
The judge held that the arrest warrant against the former minister remained active and adjourned the case till June 8, 2026, for arraignment.