Court Orders Arrest of Buhari’s Ex-Minister Over Alleged $1.3m, ₦746m Fraud

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and the ministry’s former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, following their failure to appear in court for arraignment.
The order was granted on Thursday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie after both defendants were absent in court, despite being duly served. However, the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present during proceedings.
The trio are facing a 21-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and alleged diversion of public funds.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly misappropriated an aggregate sum of $1.3 million and ₦746.5 million between May 2021 and September 2022 during their tenure at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The funds were reportedly tied to contracts under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), including payments made to a private firm, Visual ICT Limited.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that the defendants had previously been granted bail but failed to honour conditions requiring their appearance. He further disclosed that efforts to secure their attendance had been unsuccessful, including claims by the first defendant citing medical treatment abroad without verifiable documentation.
Counsel to the first defendant, Abdul Ibrahim, argued that his client’s absence was due to ill health and requested additional time to produce her in court. However, the court rejected the application.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie directed law enforcement authorities to arrest the two absent defendants and adjourned the case until May 18, 2026, for arraignment and trial.
The development marks a significant escalation in the EFCC’s prosecution of alleged high-level financial misconduct tied to the former administration of Muhammadu Buhari.