EFCC Declares Ex-Buhari Minister, Sadiya Farouq, Wanted Over Alleged Multi-Million Dollar Fraud

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, intensifying the anti-graft agency’s investigation into an alleged multi-million-dollar fraud linked to the ministry. The anti-corruption agency announced the development in a notice published on its official website, urging members of the public with information regarding the former minister’s whereabouts to contact the commission through its designated offices and phone lines. The declaration comes weeks after a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja reportedly issued a warrant for her arrest following her failure to appear for arraignment in an alleged fraud case involving $1.3million and N746.6million. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court had, on April 16, 2026, ordered the arrest of Farouq alongside a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, after both defendants failed to appear before the court for the commencement of trial. Only the third defendant in the matter, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present in court when the case was called. 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 in office at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. According to the anti-graft agency, part of the allegations concerns 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 made under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) programme for the validation of Rapid Response Register beneficiaries. Part of the charge filed before the court reads: “That you Sadiya Umar Farouq, while being Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and Bashir Nura Alkali while being the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, between 8 May 2021 and 22 September 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with certain property to wit, an aggregate sum of $1,300,000.00 (One Million, Three Hundred Thousand Dollars), was meant to be refunded to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development by Visual ICT Limited, being excess funds paid by the Ministry under National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) for the validation of Rapid Response Register beneficiaries and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code and punishable under the same Section.” The case is the latest in a series of investigations involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, which has come under intense scrutiny over the management of social intervention funds and emergency response programmes. Farouq served as minister under late former President Muhammadu Buhari and oversaw several federal intervention schemes, including the Conditional Cash Transfer programme and other social investment initiatives targeted at vulnerable Nigerians. Her declaration as wanted by the EFCC marks a significant escalation in the legal battle surrounding the alleged fraud case and could pave the way for further enforcement actions if she fails to submit herself to the authorities. As of the time of filing this report, neither Farouq nor her legal representatives had publicly reacted to the EFCC’s declaration or the allegations contained in the charges before the court.