By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Sadiya Farouq, a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, on Monday prayed an Abuja High Court to set aside a bench warrant issued against her.

The court had granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leave to arraign Ms Farouq on April 16, alongside a former permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali and Sani Mohammed.

Again, Ms Farouq failed to appear as ordered by the court, but both the second and third accused persons were present.

The Prosecution Counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the first defendant was absent.

Ms Farouq’s counsel, Oladipo Opeseyi, SAN, told the court that his client was not in court on medical grounds.

He prayed that the court hear his application.

Mr Atolagbe, however, objected to the request, arguing that the arraignment had not been done.

“According to the records of the court, the application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” he said.

He said that the first defendant’s counsel promised to produce his client.

“I object to the submission of the prosecution, saying the application cannot be heard until after arraignment,” Mr Opeseyi said.

He said the application was preliminary in a criminal matter and was ripe for hearing under the law.

“If the court cannot hear it, it is tantamount to abandonment. An arraignment is the prosecution presenting the accused person to the court,” he said.

At this juncture, the court asked the first defendant’s counsel when his client would be in court.

In response, Mr Opeseyi told the court that the 10-day holiday in Egypt made it impossible to communicate with his client.

Secondly, he said, “We are not the medical doctors to give the conditions of her health.”

He further stated that the application in question sought that the court set aside the warrant of arrest issued against the first defendant on April 16.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie said, “The court needs to know how to act.

“The court is aware that you are not the medical doctor and neither is the court”.

The judge, however, allowed the first defendant‘s application to be heard.

The first defendant’s counsel, Mr Oluseyi, argued his application, urging the court to grant it and set aside the warrant of arrest issued on his client.

Opposing the application, Mr Atolagbe urged the court not to grant the application.

In addition, he urged the court to discountenance all the medical reports submitted by the first defendant, because they lacked credibility.

Justice Onwuegbuzie, after listening to the submissions, adjourned until June 10 to rule on the application.

The Kebbi State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry with the arrest of seven suspected terrorists during coordinated intelligence-led operations in Bagudo Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were apprehended on June 5, 2026, during a series of security operations targeting criminal networks operating within the Soda Forest axis and surrounding border communities. The operations form part of the Command’s sustained efforts to dismantle terrorist cells, disrupt logistics channels, and curb violent crimes across affected areas.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Kebbi State Command, SP Bashir Usman, security operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted three suspects along the Illo–Lolo Road while they were travelling on a Haojue motorcycle from the Soda Forest area towards nearby border communities.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly on a mission to procure food supplies intended for criminal elements hiding within the forest. The suspects were identified as Muhammadu Bande, Aliyu Abubakar, and Muhammadu Aliyu. The motorcycle used by the suspects was also recovered during the operation.

In a separate operation conducted along the Bakin Ruwa–Ka’oje axis, security operatives arrested four additional suspects identified as Haruna Abubakar, Abubakar Lawali, Anme Shehu, and Yahaya Shehu. The arrests were made as police intensified efforts to dismantle criminal networks and deny suspected terrorists freedom of movement within the area.

Police authorities disclosed that all seven suspects are currently in custody and are assisting investigators. Ongoing investigations are expected to determine the full extent of their alleged involvement in criminal activities and establish possible connections to recent security incidents in the area, including an attack that resulted in the deaths of three officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The Command stated that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Speaking on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Umar M. Hadejia, described the arrests as a significant operational success in the state’s ongoing campaign against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of violent crime.

He commended the professionalism, resilience, and dedication of the operatives involved in the operations, noting that their efforts had contributed significantly to improving security in affected communities. The police commissioner also expressed appreciation to members of the public whose timely and credible information aided the success of the operations.

CP Hadejia reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven policing strategies aimed at dismantling criminal networks, disrupting their supply chains, and restoring lasting peace and security across Kebbi State.

He further urged residents to remain vigilant and continue collaborating with security agencies by providing useful and timely information on suspicious activities. According to him, all information received from members of the public would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.

The Kebbi State Police Command assured residents that efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, and related crimes would continue unabated, adding that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The federal ministry of finance says it has approved payments to more than 1,240 contractors across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

In a statement on Monday, Mary-Ann Duke, senior special assistant on communication and press secretary to the minister of finance, said the approval followed a verification and reconciliation exercise to validate outstanding obligations.

Duke said contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less were prioritised in the latest batch of payments.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance has approved payments to more than 1,240 contractors, providing immediate liquidity support to businesses across the country and reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations,” the statement reads.

The ministry said the payments would provide relief to indigenous businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to return to project sites, pay workers and settle suppliers.

“Contractors prioritised for payment in the most recent batch are those with verified claims in the region of N100 million or less,” Duke said.

The ministry added that the federal government has processed more than N700 billion in verified obligations owed to local contractors in recent months.

The statement said within the month of May alone, approximately N436.6 billion in transactions were processed, demonstrating a significant acceleration in payment activity aimed at unlocking liquidity and supporting economic growth.

According to the ministry, prioritising smaller contractors is intended to spread the impact of the disbursements across sectors and regions, while helping businesses sustain operations, preserve jobs and complete ongoing projects.

The ministry said the latest payments are also expected to boost confidence among contractors, suppliers and service providers doing business with the government.

In January, local contractors prevented Doris Uzoka-Anite, the former minister of state for finance, from accessing the ministry.

Six months later, the senate constituted a panel to engage the finance ministry on debts owed to contractors.