By our reporter 16.4.2026
Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq facing allegations of financial misappropriation failed to appear in court Thursday for arraignment at a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo.
Presiding judge Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie in the case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ordered the arrest of the former minister and a permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali.
The ruling was made on Thursday by following a request by the EFCC, which Economic is prosecuting the defendants on a 21-count charge involving alleged criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.
The EFCC alleged that about $1.3 million and more than N746 million (approximately N2.49 billion) were misappropriated during the defendants’ tenure in office.
At the proceedings, the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present in court, while Farouq and Alkali were absent.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, informed the court that all defendants had been properly served with court documents but deliberately failed to attend proceedings despite being aware of the arraignment date.
He also told the court that the former minister had earlier been granted permission to travel abroad for medical reasons but had neither returned her international passport nor submitted any medical report to the EFCC.
Counsel to the former minister, Abdul Ibrahim, explained that her absence was due to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit to that effect. However, the court refused to admit the document.
The EFCC maintained that the defendants had repeatedly failed to comply with court summons and bail conditions, urging the court to compel their appearance through arrest warrants.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the application and issued bench warrants for the arrest of both Farouq and Alkali.
The case was adjourned to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and continuation of trial proceedings.