Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and a Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, over an alleged multi-million fraud.
The duo, alongside a third defendant, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 21-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds totaling $1.3 million and ₦746.6 million.
Trouble began when the two failed to appear in court for their arraignment, forcing the judge to order their arrest. Only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, was present.
Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that efforts to produce the defendants since December 2025 had failed, alleging that Farouq had not returned her passport after a medical trip abroad.
The defence, led by Abdul Ibrahim, cited ill health as the reason for her absence, but the court rejected an affidavit seeking to justify her non-appearance.
The case, linked to alleged irregularities in the National Social Safety Net programme, has now taken a dramatic turn, with security agencies expected to move swiftly to enforce the arrest order.
