The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted for alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.
In a wanted notice published on its website today, the anti-graft agency included Farouq’s photograph, urging members of the public with information about her whereabouts to contact the nearest EFCC office or use the provided hotlines.
According to the notice it said: “The public is hereby notified that Sadiya Umar Farouq… is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of Criminal Conspiracy, Abuse of Office, Diversion of Public Funds.”
Profile and Background
Farouq, 52, is an indigene of Zamfara State. Her last known address is listed as EN-008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja.
She served as the pioneer minister of the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry from 2019 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, overseeing major social intervention programmes including the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), conditional cash transfers, school feeding, and other poverty alleviation initiatives.
The declaration escalates long-running investigations into the ministry’s finances.
Farouq, alongside former Permanent Secretary Bashir Nura Alkali and a third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, faces a 21-count charge filed by the EFCC.
The charges include criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent award of contracts, and conversion of public funds.
Specific allegations involve the diversion of approximately $1.3 million and ₦746.6 million linked to the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) for the validation of Rapid Response Register beneficiaries.
Broader probes have referenced larger sums, including alleged irregularities amounting to approximately ₦37 billion in social intervention funds.
In April 2026, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja issued a warrant for Farouq’s arrest after she failed to appear for arraignment.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from Farouq or her representatives regarding the wanted notice. EFCC advises that anyone with credible information should reach them
Administrator and Writer
