Court Orders Arrest of Ex-Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq, Former Permanent Secretary Over Alleged Fraud
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, for failing to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment.
The two defendants were expected to appear before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie alongside a third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, who was present in court.
They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 21-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and alleged diversion of public funds totaling $1.3 million and ₦746.5 million.
According to the prosecution, the funds were allegedly misappropriated while the defendants were in charge of the ministry between May 2021 and September 2022. Part of the money was said to be excess funds meant to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office programme.
Lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that although the charges were filed in December 2025, the first and second defendants repeatedly failed to appear despite being served.
He further disclosed that Sadiya Umar Farouq had earlier obtained the release of her passport on medical grounds for travel to Saudi Arabia in 2024, but has yet to return the passport or submit any medical report to the commission.
Counsel to the former minister, Abdul Ibrahim, informed the court that his client was absent due to ill health and requested six weeks to produce her in court. However, the court declined the request.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the EFCC’s application and ordered the immediate arrest of the two absent defendants. The matter was adjourned until May 18, 2026, for arraignment and commencement of trial.
