A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, for failing to appear in court for her arraignment.
The court also ordered the arrest of the former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, over the same issue.
The two officials were expected to be arraigned on Thursday before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie alongside a third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, on a 21-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office and fraudulent contract awards.
However, only the third defendant appeared in court.
According to the EFCC, the defendants are accused of fraudulently awarding contracts and converting public funds amounting to about $1.3 million and N746,574,303 while serving in the ministry.
The anti-graft agency alleged that between May 8, 2021 and September 22, 2022, Farouq and Alkali, while serving as minister and permanent secretary respectively, were entrusted with $1.3 million meant to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited. The funds were reportedly excess payments made under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) for the validation of Rapid Response Register beneficiaries.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the charge had been filed since December 15, 2025, but the first and second defendants could not be produced for arraignment despite assurances from their lawyers.
Jacobs further informed the court that Farouq had earlier written to the EFCC requesting the release of her passport to travel to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment in 2024, but had yet to return the passport or provide a medical report to the commission.
Counsel to the former minister, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), attributed her absence in court to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit explaining the situation. However, the court rejected the application.
The defence also requested six weeks to produce Farouq before the court, but the request was declined.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the EFCC’s request and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Farouq and Alkali to compel their appearance in court.
The case was adjourned to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and trial.
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