Former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged fraud and diversion of public funds linked to the Ministry she headed under the administration of late former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
The anti-graft agency announced on Saturday that Farouq is being sought in connection with allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of government funds.
In a statement signed by EFCC spokesperson, Adele Oyewale, the Commission said the former Minister, who served between 2019 and 2023, was last seen in Maitama, Abuja.
“Farouq, 52, is an indigene of Zamfara State, and her last known address is: EN 008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja,” the statement read.
The Commission called on members of the public with useful information about her whereabouts to contact any EFCC office nationwide, security agencies or the nearest police station.
The EFCC also provided its official contact channels, including its Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port-Harcourt and other zonal offices.
The development comes weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an arrest warrant against Farouq and a permanent secretary in the Ministry, Nura Alkali, on April 16, 2026, following their failure to appear in court for arraignment.
The former Minister and other officials are being investigated over an alleged ₦37 billion fraud within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
According to the anti-graft agency, a 21-count charge has already been filed against the defendants bordering on breach of trust, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
The EFCC further alleged that about $1.3 million and ₦746.6 million meant for government social intervention programmes were diverted for personal use instead of being returned to the Ministry.
