EFCC Declares Ex-Minister Sadiya Farouq Wanted Over Fraud

EFCC declares former minister Sadiya Umar Farouq wanted over alleged $1.3m fraud and diversion of public funds.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has officially declared former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted.

This move is tied to an ongoing investigation into a multi-million-dollar fraud linked to her former ministry. The EFCC announced this development on its official website, asking the public for help.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the commission through its designated offices and phone lines.

The trouble has been brewing for a while. Just weeks ago, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja issued a warrant for her arrest. This happened because she failed to show up for her arraignment.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie gave the arrest order on April 16, 2026. The judge's directive also covered a former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali. Both of them were absent when the case was called.

Only the third defendant in the matter, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present in court that day.

The EFCC is pressing a 21-count charge against the defendants. The charges border on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and diverting public funds while they were in charge.

The allegations involve some staggering figures. Investigators are looking into an alleged fraud involving $1.3 million and N746.6 million.

A significant part of the charge focuses on the $1.3 million. The EFCC claims this money was supposed to be refunded to the ministry by a company called Visual ICT Limited.

The funds were described as excess payments made under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office programme. This money was meant for validating Rapid Response Register beneficiaries. Instead of returning to government coffers, the funds were allegedly diverted.

This case is just the latest scandal to hit the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The ministry has faced intense scrutiny over how it managed social intervention funds and emergency response programs.

Farouq served as a minister under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. During her time, she oversaw major federal schemes, including the Conditional Cash Transfer program designed to help vulnerable Nigerians.

By declaring her wanted, the EFCC has significantly raised the stakes in this legal battle. If she continues to evade the authorities, further enforcement actions are sure to follow.

As of the time of filing this report, silence has been the response from her camp. Neither Farouq nor her legal representatives have spoken publicly about the EFCC's declaration or the charges against her.