EFCC Declares Former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq Wanted for Alleged Fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, wanted in connection with allegations of criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and the diversion of public funds.
This declaration, made public on Saturday, follows a warrant of arrest issued weeks earlier by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court after the former minister and a co-defendant repeatedly failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
21-Count Charge Stemming from Social Intervention Funds
The legal troubles stem from an ongoing investigation into the management of funds under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO). According to a charge sheet filed by the EFCC, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who served as minister from 2019 to 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing a 21-count charge alongside a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, and one Sani Nafiu Mohammed. The allegations centre on the fraudulent conversion of approximately $1.3 million and N746.6 million.
Court documents reviewing the specific allegations state that the funds were meant to be refunded to the ministry by a contractor, Visual ICT Limited, following an overpayment for work done validating beneficiaries of the Rapid Response Register. However, the EFCC alleges that the then-minister and the permanent secretary diverted the funds for their “personal benefit”.
Court Issues Arrest Warrant
The warrant for her arrest was granted on April 16, 2026, by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja. The order was issued after the prosecution counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that the former minister and the permanent secretary had failed to appear for their arraignment. At the proceedings, only the third defendant, Mr. Mohammed, was present.
The prosecution further informed the court that the ex-minister had been granted permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for a medical check-up in 2024, following which her international passport was released to her. However, she was yet to return the passport or provide any medical report to justify her continued absence and failure to appear in court.
In response to the EFCC’s application, counsel for the former minister, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN), attributed her absence to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit to that effect. The presiding judge, however, rejected the request, stating, “In view of the failure of the defendants to appear before this court for their arraignment, the application of the prosecution is hereby granted,” before issuing a bench warrant for their arrest. The case has been adjourned, pending the execution of the arrest warrant.
Public Urged to Assist with Information
In declaring her wanted, the EFCC through its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, urged any member of the public with information on her whereabouts to contact the commission’s offices nationwide. The commission’s notice described Umar-Farouq, a 52-year-old indigene of Zamfara State, and provided her last known address as EN008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja. Members of the public are urged to report any useful information to the nearest EFCC office, police station, or through the commission’s email address, info@efcc.gov.ng.
