A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie made the order on Thursday, April 16, 2026, after the two defendants failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment. Only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present in court when the case was called.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting the three on a 21-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent award of contract and conversion of public funds. The sums involved total about 1.3 million United States dollars and 746.574 million naira.
The proceedings began with the formal reading of the charges. One of the counts alleges that Sadiya Umar Farouq, while serving as minister, and Bashir Nura Alkali, while serving as permanent secretary, between May 8, 2021 and September 22, 2022 in Abuja, committed criminal breach of trust.
They are accused of fraudulently converting an aggregate sum of 1.3 million dollars meant to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited.
The amount represented excess funds paid by the ministry under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office for the validation of Rapid Response Register beneficiaries. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code.
EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that the first and second defendants had not been produced for arraignment despite earlier efforts and assurances from their lawyers. He noted that only the third defendant reported to the commission after his surety was contacted, and the surety was present in court.
Jacobs stated that Sadiya Umar Farouq had earlier been permitted to travel abroad for medical reasons after her passport was released. However, she did not return the passport to the commission and failed to provide satisfactory medical documentation. He added that medical reports attached to an affidavit filed on her behalf that morning were issued after the charge had been filed, and no medical report was shown to the commission for the approved journey.
Counsel to Sadiya Umar Farouq, Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, attributed her absence to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit of fact, but the court rejected the application.
The prosecution sought to amend an ex-parte motion filed on February 16, 2026, and urged the court to issue a bench warrant. An affidavit sworn by one Celeb Peter on April 15, 2026, showed that the defendants had been granted bail but failed to report back, and that the charge had been filed and served on them without their appearance in court.
Defence counsel urged the court to grant a six-week period to produce the first defendant.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the prosecution’s request and issued the warrant of arrest against the first and second defendants.
The case was adjourned to May 18, 2026 for arraignment and trial.
