Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has issued a warrant of arrest against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq.
The court also ordered the arrest of the former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, after both failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment on Thursday, April 16. The only defendant present in court was Sani Nafiu Mohammed.
The trio were to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 21-count charge bordering on alleged breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and the alleged conversion of public funds amounting to about $1.3 million and N746.5 million during their tenure in the ministry.
One of the charges alleges that Farouq and Alkali, while serving in their respective offices between May 2021 and September 2022, allegedly diverted funds linked to excess payments meant to be refunded to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the defendants had previously failed to appear for arraignment despite efforts to serve them, adding that only the third defendant had shown up after his surety was contacted. He also stated that the first defendant had earlier travelled to Saudi Arabia for medical reasons but had not returned her passport or provided satisfactory documentation regarding her continued absence.
Counsel to the first defendant, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), attributed her absence to ill health and urged the court to consider an affidavit, but the application was rejected.
Jacobs subsequently urged the court to issue a bench warrant to compel the appearance of the defendants, arguing that they had failed to comply with bail conditions and court directives.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the prosecution’s request and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the first and second defendants. The matter was adjourned to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and trial.
