Counsel to former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has told the court that his client is currently in Egypt and is medically unfit to appear for proceedings.
The lawyer, Oladipo Okpesheyi, made the disclosure amid ongoing legal proceedings involving the former minister and two other defendants.
Farouq, alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Mohammed, is facing a 21-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of breach of trust and abuse of office.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly misappropriated about $1.3 million and N746.6 million in public funds.
The charges were filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The case has drawn significant attention following earlier actions taken by the court and anti-corruption authorities.
In April, the court issued arrest warrants for Farouq and Alkali, while the EFCC later declared the former minister wanted over allegations relating to abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
