Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, once again failed to appear for her arraignment at the Abuja High Court on Monday, in a case handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Farouq and former Permanent Secretary Bashir Alkali were originally scheduled for arraignment on April 16, 2026, alongside a third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed. While Mohammed appeared in court, Farouq and Alkali were absent, prompting the court to issue arrest warrants for both.
At Monday’s resumed hearing, Alkali presented himself at the EFCC Headquarters and was formally brought to court. Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, requested that the court discharge Alkali’s arrest warrant, noting that he had surrendered voluntarily.
Regarding Farouq, Jacobs informed the court that the EFCC is coordinating with international partners and requires additional time to secure her presence. He also noted that Farouq filed a motion on April 27 seeking the discharge of her arrest warrant, followed by a supplementary affidavit submitted on Friday, for which the prosecution has provided an advance reply.
Farouq’s lawyer, Oladipo Opeseyi, SAN, told the court that the former minister is medically unfit to travel, citing ongoing treatment at a hospital in Egypt. He requested an adjournment to allow the court to consider the motion, which the prosecution did not oppose.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie discharged the arrest order against Alkali and warned that if Farouq fails to appear on the next adjourned date, the court would enforce stricter measures. The arraignment has now been scheduled for June 8, 2026.
