The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted over allegations of abuse of office and diversion of public funds linked to an ongoing fraud investigation involving millions of naira and foreign currency.
The anti-graft agency announced the development through a public notice published on its official platforms, calling on Nigerians with useful information about the former minister’s whereabouts to report to any EFCC office or contact the commission through its official communication channels.
The declaration followed reports that a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja issued a warrant for Farouq’s arrest after she allegedly failed to appear before the court for arraignment in a criminal case involving alleged financial misconduct.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court had reportedly ordered the arrest of Farouq and a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, on April 16, 2026, after both defendants were absent when the matter came up for hearing.
The third defendant in the case, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was said to be the only accused person present in court during the proceedings.
The EFCC is prosecuting the defendants on a 21-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds during their time at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
According to the commission, part of the allegations relates to an aggregate sum of $1.3 million allegedly meant to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited after what investigators described as excess payments under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) programme.
Investigators alleged that the funds were linked to payments made for the validation of beneficiaries captured under the Rapid Response Register programme designed to support vulnerable Nigerians.
Court documents cited by the EFCC alleged that between May 2021 and September 2022, the defendants were entrusted with the funds in their official capacities but failed to ensure the money was properly returned to the ministry as required.
The anti-corruption agency maintained that the alleged actions violated provisions of the Penal Code relating to criminal breach of trust and misuse of public resources.
The case is the latest in a growing number of investigations surrounding the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, which has faced repeated scrutiny over the management of intervention funds and social welfare programmes.
Farouq served as minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari and supervised several federal social intervention initiatives, including the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme and other programmes targeted at low-income and vulnerable citizens across the country.
Her declaration as a wanted marks a major escalation in the EFCC’s investigation and may lead to further legal actions if she fails to present herself before the authorities.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Farouq nor members of her legal team had publicly responded to the allegations, the court warrant, or the EFCC’s declaration.
