A High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, over alleged fraud involving social intervention funds.
The order, issued on Thursday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, also affects the ministry’s former permanent secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, after both defendants failed to appear in court for their arraignment.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the duo is facing a 21-count charge bordering on breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and diversion of public funds.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that despite being served with charges since December 2025, the defendants repeatedly failed to appear.
He noted that previous assurances by their legal representatives to produce them had not been fulfilled.
The EFCC further alleged that Umar-Farouq and Alkali diverted $1.3 million and N746.5 million linked to the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO).
The funds were reportedly excess payments meant to be refunded by a contractor, Social Development by Visual ICT Limited, but were instead converted for personal use.
Only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present in court.
The prosecution also revealed that the former minister had obtained the release of her passport in 2024 for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia but failed to return it or provide medical documentation as required.
Defense counsel, Audu Ibrahim, argued that Umar-Farouq’s absence was due to ill health and requested six weeks to produce her in court.
However, the judge rejected the plea and granted the EFCC’s request for a bench warrant.
The case has been adjourned to May 18 for arraignment.
Umar-Farouq, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has previously faced scrutiny over the management of social intervention programmes.
The programmes were suspended in 2023 by President Bola Tinubu amid broader investigations into alleged financial irregularities.
