A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, in a dramatic escalation of her ongoing fraud trial over alleged diversion of $1.3 million and over ₦746 million in public funds.
The order, delivered by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on Thursday, followed her failure to appear in court—an absence the court did not excuse.
Also hit with an arrest order is the former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, accused of playing a key role in the alleged fraud.
Both 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, contract fraud, and misappropriation of public funds.
But it is not just the allegations that have intensified scrutiny—it is their disappearance from the courtroom.
When the case was called, neither Farouq nor Alkali was present. Only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, appeared—further sharpening the court’s concern over what prosecutors described as a pattern of evasion.
EFCC’s lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that despite the charges being filed since December 2025, the two defendants had remained out of reach, frustrating efforts to bring them before the court.
According to him, both had earlier been granted administrative bail, yet failed to honour the basic condition of appearing for trial.
The prosecution also raised fresh questions about Farouq’s prolonged absence from the country.
Jacobs revealed that the former minister had obtained permission in 2024 to travel to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment, during which her international passport was released to her.
Since then, he said, the passport has not been returned—and no medical report has been submitted to justify the trip.
“My Lord, we have not received any medical report from Saudi Arabia to date,” Jacobs told the court, casting doubt on claims that her absence was health-related.
He further noted that medical documents recently submitted by her legal team were dated after the charges had already been filed—raising suspicions about their credibility.
With the arrest warrant now in place, the case has entered a more confrontational phase, shifting from allegations of financial misconduct to questions of accountability and compliance with the judicial process.
Legal observers say the development underscores a broader pattern in high-profile corruption cases—where delays, absence, and procedural tactics often stall proceedings.
For now, the court’s message is clear: no defendant is beyond its reach.
And as the EFCC intensifies efforts to bring the former minister to court, the case is shaping up to be not just a trial over alleged fraud—but a test of whether accountability can be enforced at the highest levels of public office.
Court orders arrest as ex-minister dodges $1.3m fraud trial
