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 the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, over an alleged fraud involving $1.3 million and N746.6 million.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie gave the order on Thursday after both defendants failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment. Only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present.
The trio are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 21-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and alleged diversion of public funds.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly misappropriated funds meant to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) programme.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court: “We could not arraign them on December 15 because we could not produce them… their lawyers promised to produce the defendants, but we didn’t see them.”
He further stated: “My lord, since that passport was released to her, she has not returned it… We do not have the medical report in Saudi Arabia till date.”
Jacobs urged the court to compel their appearance, saying: “It is imperative… to issue a warrant of arrest against the first and second defendants so that they can be compelled to appear before the court.”
Counsel to the first defendant, Abdul Ibrahim, argued that Farouq’s absence was due to ill health and requested more time to produce her in court, but the application was rejected.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the EFCC’s request and ordered the arrest of the two defendants. The case was adjourned to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and trial.