A High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and former Permanent Secretary Bashir Nura Alkali after they failed to appear for their arraignment.
The ruling was issued on Thursday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, with only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, present in court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting the trio on a 21-count charge bordering on breach of trust, abuse of office, and the alleged diversion of public funds.
Part of the charge states that the defendants “committed criminal breach of trust… when you fraudulently converted the said sum to your personal benefit.”
Prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs told the court that the defendants had been served but were not produced for arraignment.
“We could not arraign them… because we could not produce them… their lawyers promised they would produce the defendants but we didn’t see them,” he said.
He added that only the third defendant responded after his surety was contacted.
Jacobs also told the court that the first defendant had travelled for medical reasons but had not returned her passport or provided any medical report.
“Since that passport was released to her, she has not returned the passport… we do not have the medical report… till date,” he said.
He further challenged documents presented by her counsel, stating that “all the medical reports… were issued after the charge had been filed.”
Defence counsel Abdul Ibrahim attributed her absence to ill health and sought time to produce her.
“We are praying your lordship to order or issue a warrant of arrest… so that they can be compelled to appear before the court,” Jacobs added.
Justice Onwuegbuzie subsequently issued a bench warrant against the first and second defendants and adjourned the case to May 18, 2026 for arraignment and trial.
