Court Grants EFCC Permission to Arrest Former Nigerian Minister Sadiya Farouk
By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) permission to arrest former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk.
The anti-graft agency is investigating the former minister over an alleged N746.6 million and $1.3 million fraud case linked to her ministry.
In a statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, the EFCC said Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie also issued a warrant for the arrest of the ministry’s permanent secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali.
According to the commission, the court order followed the refusal of the accused persons to appear before the court on Thursday. Although the defendants’ lawyer requested an adjournment citing illness and other reasons preventing Sadiya from attending, the court rejected the plea.
The EFCC noted that it had filed the case on December 15, 2025, but had been unable to serve the court summons on the accused persons personally.
Sadiya Farouk served as minister under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. She is married to former Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, AVM Sadiq Abubakar (retired).