High Court Issues Bench Warrant for Ex-Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq Over Missing ₦1.3 Billion Public Funds

A High Court has ordered the arrest of former Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq and Bashir Nura Alkali over the alleged ₦1.3 billion EFCC corruption charges.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 4:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Judicial Mandate Issued Following Repeated Arraignment Failures

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has taken decisive action by issuing a bench warrant for Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie authorized the arrest order on Thursday after the former minister failed to present herself for scheduled legal proceedings. This escalation follows months of delays in a case that has drawn significant national attention toward the management of social welfare funds intended for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

Permanent Secretary and Minister Face Multi Count Corruption Charges

The arrest order extends beyond the former minister to include Bashir Nura Alkali, the ministry’s former Permanent Secretary, who was also absent from the courtroom. Both officials are central figures in a 21 count indictment prepared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The prosecution alleges a coordinated criminal breach of trust that led to the suspicious diversion of public resources. While Farouq and Alkali remained at large, the third defendant in the case, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, did appear before the court for the scheduled session.

Allegations Detail Diversion of Funds Meant for Social Safety Nets

At the heart of the EFCC investigation is the claim that approximately $1.3 million and ₦746.57 million were siphoned through the manipulation of government contracts. Specifically, investigators allege that between May 2021 and September 2022, Farouq and Alkali diverted funds originally earmarked for the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office. These resources were intended for the validation of beneficiaries under the Rapid Response Register but were reportedly channeled as excess payments to a private firm, Visual ICT Limited, and never returned to the federal treasury.