A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo has ordered the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, after both failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.

The order was issued on Thursday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the defendants on a 21-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.

The EFCC alleged that approximately $1.3 million and over ₦746 million—about ₦2.49 billion in total—were misappropriated during the defendants’ tenure in office. While a third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, appeared in court, Farouq and Alkali were absent.

Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that all defendants had been duly served with the relevant court documents but failed to attend proceedings despite being aware of the arraignment date.

He further informed the court that the former minister had previously been granted permission to travel abroad for medical treatment but had neither returned her international passport nor provided any medical report to the EFCC.

Counsel to the former minister, Abdul Ibrahim, attributed her absence to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit in support of this claim. However, the court declined to admit the document.

The defence team requested a six-week adjournment to enable the defendants to appear before the court, but the prosecution opposed the application, insisting on the execution of arrest warrants due to repeated non-compliance with court summons and bail conditions.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the EFCC’s application and issued bench warrants for the arrest of both Farouq and Alkali.

The matter was adjourned until May 18, 2026, for arraignment and continuation of trial proceedings.