By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo has ordered the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, alongside a permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, after both failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
The order was issued 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. The ruling was contained in proceedings before the court.
According to the EFCC, about $1.3 million and over N746 million, totalling approximately N2.49 billion, were allegedly misappropriated during the defendants’ tenure in office.
At the hearing, the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present in court, while Farouq and Alkali were absent.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that all defendants had been duly served with the necessary court processes but failed to appear, despite being aware of the arraignment date. He further disclosed that the former minister had earlier been granted permission to travel abroad on medical grounds but had neither returned her international passport nor submitted any medical report to the EFCC.
Counsel to the former minister, Abdul Ibrahim, attributed her absence to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit to that effect. However, the court declined to admit the document.
The defence also requested a six-week adjournment to enable the defendants to appear in court, but the prosecution opposed the application, urging the court to take enforcement measures.
The EFCC maintained that the defendants had consistently failed to honour court summons and comply with bail conditions, pressing for the issuance of arrest warrants to compel their attendance.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the prosecution’s request and issued bench warrants for the arrest of both Farouq and Alkali.
The case was subsequently adjourned to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and continuation of trial proceedings.
