A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has escalated a long-running corruption case involving Nigeria’s social investment programmes, issuing a warrant of arrest against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and a serving Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, after both failed to appear for arraignment.
The order, delivered on Thursday by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, marks a significant turn in a case that touches on the management of funds earmarked for some of Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
Allegations tied to social safety net funds
The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 21-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and alleged diversion of public funds totaling $1.3 million and N746.6 million.
According to court filings, the funds were linked to the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), a key component of Nigeria’s poverty alleviation framework. Prosecutors allege that the money—described as excess payments due for refund by a contractor, Visual ICT Limited—was instead fraudulently converted for personal use between May 2021 and September 2022.
The case goes beyond routine procurement violations; it raises questions about oversight within programmes designed to cushion economic hardship, particularly at a time when millions of Nigerians rely on government support amid inflation and subsidy reforms.
Defendants absent, court loses patience
Although the case has been pending since December 2025, proceedings stalled due to difficulties in securing the appearance of the first and second defendants.
Lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that despite earlier assurances from defence lawyers, both Farouq and Alkali failed to present themselves. He further disclosed that Farouq had previously obtained permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment but has yet to return her passport or provide medical documentation linked to that trip.
An affidavit submitted by her counsel, Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, citing ill health as the reason for her absence, was rejected by the court.
With only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed, present in court, the prosecution successfully applied for a bench warrant, arguing that the defendants had been duly served but failed to honour the court’s authority.
Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request, effectively authorising law enforcement agencies to compel their appearance.
Broader accountability questions
The case sits within a wider pattern of scrutiny over Nigeria’s humanitarian and social intervention programmes, especially following public criticism about transparency and efficiency in the disbursement of funds.
Under Farouq’s tenure, the ministry oversaw high-profile initiatives such as conditional cash transfers and emergency interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. While these programmes expanded rapidly, they also attracted allegations of opacity, weak monitoring systems, and potential leakages.
Analysts say this case could test the government’s willingness to pursue accountability at senior levels, particularly within ministries handling large-scale social spending.
What is known — and what is not
Court documents confirm the charges, the amounts involved, and the issuance of the arrest warrant. It is also established that the defendants were granted bail at some stage but have not complied with conditions requiring their appearance.
However, it remains unclear whether the accused are currently within Nigeria, and no official confirmation has been provided regarding any active efforts to enforce the arrest warrant as of Thursday.
The defence has indicated a willingness to produce the first defendant within six weeks, but the court has not accepted that timeline.
What happens next
The case has been adjourned to May 18, 2026, for arraignment and possible commencement of trial—provided the defendants are in custody or present before the court.
For ordinary Nigerians, the outcome carries weight beyond the courtroom. The alleged diversion of funds tied to social safety programmes directly affects public trust in government interventions meant to alleviate poverty. Any proven misconduct could reinforce calls for tighter controls, real-time auditing, and greater transparency in public spending.
Attention will now focus on whether the EFCC can enforce the court’s order and whether this case signals a more assertive phase in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts—or follows the familiar pattern of prolonged legal battles with uncertain outcomes.
