Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Minister Sadiya Farouq in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Case
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, has taken decisive action by issuing a warrant of arrest against Sadiya Umar Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. The court also directed the arrest of Bashir Nura Alkali, the former Permanent Secretary of the same ministry, for their failure to appear in court for arraignment on serious financial misconduct charges.
Failed Court Appearance and Charges
The defendants, including a third individual, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, were scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, April 16, 2026. However, only Mohammed was present in court, leading to the court's stern response. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the trio on a 21-count charge that includes breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and conversion of public funds totaling approximately $1,300,000 and N746,574,303. These alleged offenses occurred during their tenure in the ministry between May 2021 and September 2022.
Count one of the charge details that Farouq and Alkali, while in their official capacities, are accused of fraudulently converting $1,300,000 meant to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited. This sum was related to excess funds paid under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) for validating Rapid Response Register beneficiaries, constituting a criminal breach of trust under Section 315 of the Penal Code.
Prosecution's Arguments and Defense Responses
Prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the court that the charge had been filed since December 15, 2025, but efforts to serve the first and second defendants were unsuccessful. He highlighted that Farouq had previously written to the EFCC, claiming a need for a medical check-up in Saudi Arabia in 2024, and her passport was released for this purpose. However, Jacobs noted that she has not returned the passport, and no medical reports from Saudi Arabia have been provided to date, with all attached reports issued after the charges were filed.
Defense counsel Abdul Ibrahim, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued that Farouq's absence was due to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit of fact, but the court rejected this application. Jacobs further requested the court to amend an ex-parte motion filed on February 16, 2026, to focus solely on Farouq and Alkali, and prayed for a warrant of arrest to compel their appearance, supported by an affidavit from Celeb Peter dated April 15, 2026, indicating they had been granted bail but failed to report back.
Court Ruling and Adjournment
In response, the defense counsel pleaded for a six-week period to produce Farouq in court, but Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled in favor of the prosecution. The judge issued a warrant of arrest against Farouq and Alkali, emphasizing the need to ensure their presence for trial. The matter has been adjourned to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and trial, underscoring the court's commitment to addressing allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds in Nigeria's humanitarian sector.
