Yesterday, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, 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 allegations of fraud involving $1.3 million and ₦746 million.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the defendants were scheduled for arraignment before the court but failed to appear; only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that charges had been filed since December 15, 2025, but service was initially unsuccessful.
Jacobs further told the court that Umar-Farouq had previously requested her passport to travel to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment but allegedly failed to return it or provide medical reports to the EFCC.
Defence counsel, Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, argued that her absence was due to ill health and filed an affidavit of facts, which the court rejected.
The EFCC sought to amend its ex parte motion to apply only to the first and second defendants.
Jacobs urged the court to issue a bench warrant, supported by an affidavit showing that the defendants had been granted bail but failed to report back despite being served with charges.
Defence counsel requested six weeks to produce the ex-minister, but the court declined.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie issued a warrant of arrest against Umar-Farouq and Alkali.
The judge adjourned the matter to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and trial.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the defendants are accused of breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent award of contracts, and conversion of public funds amounting to $1,300,000 and ₦746,574,303. Funds meant to be refunded to the Ministry by Visual ICT Limited under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) for the validation of Rapid Response Register beneficiaries.
The offences contravene Section 315 of the Penal Code, which criminalises breach of trust and prescribes punishment for such offences.
... FCT High Court Orders Arrest of Ex-Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq and Permanent Secretary Over Alleged $1.3m, ₦746m Fraud ... Naijaonpoint.