Alleged ₦746.7 Million Fraud: Court Rejects Sadiya Farouq’s Bid to Vacate Arrest Warrant

The legal troubles facing former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, deepened on Monday after a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, dismissed her application seeking to set aside a bench warrant and warrant of arrest previously issued against her.

In a ruling delivered by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, the court held that Farouq failed to honour its summons and did not provide a satisfactory explanation for her absence. The judge ruled that the court acted within its legal powers in issuing the arrest warrant and found no sufficient grounds to reverse the decision.

Farouq is facing trial alongside Bashir Nura Alkali and Sani Nafiu Mohammed over allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and the diversion of public funds amounting to $1.3 million and ₦746.7 million. The charges were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Following the ruling, counsel to the EFCC urged the court to enforce an undertaking allegedly made by Farouq’s legal team to produce the former minister before the court. The anti-graft agency argued that despite previous assurances, Farouq had continued to stay away from the proceedings.

In response, a member of Farouq’s legal team requested that the senior advocate involved be allowed to personally address the issue of the alleged undertaking before any further action is taken. The court granted the request and directed the lawyer to appear and clarify his position.

The matter was subsequently adjourned until July 2, 2026, for the arraignment of the defendants and continuation of proceedings.

The ruling is seen as a significant boost for the EFCC and underscores the court’s determination to ensure the former minister appears to answer the allegations against her. The case has continued to attract public attention due to the large sums involved and Farouq’s former role overseeing key humanitarian and social intervention programmes of the federal government.