Alleged fraud: Court issues arrest warrants against ex-Minister Sadiya Farouq, perm sec
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Apo has issued arrest warrants against a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq,
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Apo has issued arrest warrants against a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, and a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali.
The court issued the arrest warrants over their failure to attend court for their arraignment on a charge linking them to an alleged fraud involving $1.3 million and N746.6 million.
Farouq, who was in office from 2019 to 2023, supervised key social intervention programmes, including the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie issued the arrest warrants while ruling yesterday on an ex parte motion filed by the prosecution and moved by prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), after the two defendants failed to appear in court for their planned arraignment.
Before moving the motion, Jacobs applied for a slight amendment to exclude the name of the third defendant, Sani Mohammed, who was present in court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 21-count charge against the defendants last year.
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The EFCC accused the defendants of criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent award of contracts, and diversion of public funds.
The anti-graft agency claimed that the defendants were involved in the mismanagement and diversion of $1,300,000 and N746,574,303.
It accused Farouq and Alkali of converting $1.3 million meant to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited. The funds were said to be excess payments under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office programme for validating the Rapid Response Register of the beneficiaries.
Jacobs said the charges were filed on December 15, 2025, but the first and second defendants have not been available for arraignment.
The prosecution lawyer said the lawyers for the defendants had assured the court they would be present but failed to appear in court.
He announced that Farouq travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2024 for medical treatment after her passport was released by the commission, but has not returned to court or provided any medical report.
Jacobs said the medical documents that Farouq’s legal team later submitted were issued after the charges had been filed.
Lawyer to the defendants, Abdul Ibrahim, said the ex-minister was absent on grounds of ill health.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned till May 18 for arraignment.
