Abuja — A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, over her failure to appear in court for arraignment in an ongoing fraud case.
The order was granted by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie after the prosecution informed the court that the former minister had repeatedly failed to attend proceedings despite being served with charges.
The court also ordered the arrest of a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, who is listed as a co-defendant in the case.
The charges were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 21-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and alleged diversion of public funds.
The case originated from investigations into financial activities during Farouq’s tenure at the humanitarian ministry, particularly involving funds allocated to social intervention programmes. Authorities allege that about $1.3 million and over ₦700 million were mismanaged or diverted.
During proceedings, the prosecution told the court that the defendants had failed to appear for arraignment since the charges were filed in late 2025, prompting the request for a warrant of arrest. The court subsequently granted the application and adjourned the matter for further hearing.
Counsel to the former minister reportedly cited health concerns as the reason for her absence, but the court rejected the explanation and insisted that the defendants must appear to answer the charges.
The development signals a new phase in the case, as legal authorities move to compel the former minister’s appearance in court to respond to the allegations.