‘$1.3m fraud’: Court orders arrest of ex-humanitarian minister Sadiya Farouq
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court sitting in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against Sadiya Umar Farouq, former minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, and Bashir Nura Alkali, a permanent secretary in the ministry.
Jude Onwuegbuzie, the presiding judge, issued the warrant on Thursday after the two defendants failed to appear in court for arraignment.
The duo, alongside Sani Nafiu Mohammed, are facing a 21-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bordering on breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and conversion of public funds.
The alleged fraud involves $1.3 million and N746,574,303 said to belong to the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs disaster management and social development.
While the third defendant was present in court, Farouq and Alkali were absent when the matter was called.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the charge was filed on December 15, 2025, but the first and second defendants were initially difficult to serve.
Jacobs said the defendants were later served but failed to appear in court despite being granted bail.
He further informed the court that Farouq had earlier written to the commission seeking the release of her passport to travel to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment in 2024.
According to him, she has yet to return the passport or provide medical reports to justify her continued absence.
Jacobs added that the EFCC filed an application seeking a bench warrant after the defendants failed to honour the court proceedings.
“We are praying your lordship to issue a warrant of arrest against the first and second defendants so that they can be compelled to appear before the court,” he said.
Abdul Ibrahim, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel to the first defendant, told the court that Farouq’s absence was due to ill health.
He sought to tender an affidavit explaining her medical condition and requested that the court allow six weeks to produce her.
However, the court rejected the application.
In his ruling, the judge granted the EFCC’s request and issued arrest warrants against Farouq and Alkali and subsequently adjourned the case until May 18 for arraignment and commencement of trial.
According to the EFCC, the charges include allegations that the defendants fraudulently converted $1.3 million, which was meant to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited as excess funds paid under the national social safety net coordinating office (NASSCO) programme.
