N1.3bn Scam: Former Minister Sadiya Now a Fugitive, Says EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, wanted over alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.

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The anti-graft agency posted the wanted notice on its website on Saturday.

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According to the EFCC notice, the 52-year-old Farouq is an indigene of Zamfara State, and her last known address is EN 008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja.

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EFCC, in the notice signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, urged members of the public with information on her whereabouts to contact the commission.

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“The public is hereby notified that SADIYA UMAR FAROUQ, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.

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“Farouq, 52, is an indigene of Zamfara State, and her last known address is: EN 008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja.

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“Anybody with useful information as to her whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies,” the notice read.

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Farouq served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2023.

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In April 2026, the EFCC secured a warrant of arrest against Farouq and a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, over an alleged fraud involving $1.3m and N746.6m.

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The warrant was issued on April 16 by trial judge Jude Onwuegbuzie after the two defendants failed to appear in court for their arraignment.

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The commission alleged that the defendants were involved in the mismanagement and diversion of $1.3 million and N746,574,303.

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The EFCC specifically accused Farouq and Alkali of converting $1.3 million meant to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited. The funds were said to be excess payments under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office programme for validating Rapid Response Register beneficiaries.

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