FCT High Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Former Minister Sadiya Farouq, Permanent Secretary

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has issued a warrant of arrest against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, following their failure to appear in court for arraignment.

The defendants were scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday but were absent when the case was called, with only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, present in court. Their absence prompted immediate legal action as proceedings could not continue without all parties before the court.

The trio is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 21-count charge bordering on alleged breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent award of contracts, and the diversion of public funds. The charges involve sums exceeding one million dollars and over ₦746 million.

During proceedings, prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs informed the court that the charges had been filed as far back as December 15, 2025, indicating that the defendants had ample notice ahead of the scheduled arraignment.

Counsel to the first defendant, Abdul Ibrahim, explained that Farouq’s absence was due to ill health and assured the court that she would be available within six weeks. He also sought to tender an affidavit of facts in support of his application, but the court declined to admit it.

In his ruling, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ordered the arrest of the absent defendants and adjourned the case to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and the commencement of trial.