Court Orders Ex-Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq’s Arrest Over Alleged N2.49bn Fraud

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Apo has ordered the arrest of the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, alongside a permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, after both failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.

The ruling was made on Thursday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie following a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the defendants on a 21-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.

The EFCC alleged that about $1.3 million and more than N746 million (approximately N2.49 billion) were misappropriated during the defendants’ tenure in office.

When the matter came up on Thursday, the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present in court, while Farouq and Alkali were absent.

Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN informed the court that all defendants had been properly served with court documents but deliberately failed to attend proceedings despite being aware of the arraignment date.

He also told the court that the former minister had earlier been granted permission to travel abroad for medical reasons but had neither returned her international passport nor submitted any medical report to the EFCC.

Counsel to the former minister, Abdul Ibrahim, explained that her absence was due to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit to that effect. However, the court refused to admit the document.

The defence further pleaded for a six-week adjournment to allow the defendants time to appear before the court, but the prosecution opposed the request, insisting on enforcement action.

The EFCC maintained that the defendants had repeatedly failed to comply with court summons and bail conditions, urging the court to compel their appearance through arrest warrants.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the application and issued bench warrants for the arrest of both Farouq and Alkali and adjourned the case to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and continuation of trial proceedings.