A High Court of the Abuja sitting in Apo has issued bench warrants 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 their failure to appear in court for arraignment.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the defendants on a 21-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
According to the EFCC, the case involves the alleged misappropriation of about $1.3 million and over N746 million, estimated at approximately N2.49 billion, during the defendants’ tenure.
At the hearing, only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present in court, while Farouq and Alkali were absent.
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Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that all defendants had been duly served with court processes but failed to honour the arraignment despite being aware of the date.
He further informed the court that although the former minister had earlier been granted permission to travel abroad for medical reasons, she had not returned her international passport or submitted any medical report to the EFCC.
Counsel to Farouq, Abdul Ibrahim, attributed her absence to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit to that effect, but the court declined to admit the document.
The defence also requested a six-week adjournment to enable the defendants to appear, but the prosecution opposed the application, urging the court to enforce compliance.
The EFCC maintained that the defendants had consistently failed to honour court summons and bail conditions, insisting on the need for arrest warrants to compel their attendance.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the application and ordered the arrest of both Farouq and Alkali.
The matter was adjourned to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and continuation of proceedings.
