A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Thursday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, over alleged fraud.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie gave the order following the failure of the duo to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Farouq, Alkali and a third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, on a 21-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards and alleged diversion of public funds totalling $1.3 million and N746.6 million.
At Thursday’s proceedings, only Mohammed was present in court.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that although the charge was filed on December 15, 2025, the first and second defendants had been difficult to produce.
He said their counsel had earlier undertaken to present them in court but failed to do so.
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Jacobs further informed the court that Farouq had previously written to the EFCC, indicating she was travelling to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment in 2024, upon which her passport was released.
According to him, she has yet to return the passport or provide any medical report to justify her continued absence.
He also challenged documents recently filed by her counsel, noting that the attached medical reports were dated after the charge had already been instituted.
Counsel to the first defendant, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), attributed her absence to ill- health and urged the court to accept an affidavit to that effect, a request the court declined.
The prosecution also sought leave to amend an earlier ex-parte motion to focus on the first and second defendants and prayed the court to issue a warrant for their arrest.
Jacobs argued that the defendants had been granted administrative bail but failed to report back, despite being duly served with the charges.
He said a warrant of arrest had become necessary to compel their appearance. Defence counsel, however, pleaded for six weeks to produce the former minister in court.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the EFCC’s application and ordered the arrest of Farouq and Alkali.
The case was adjourned till May 18, 2026, for arraignment and trial.
