Farouq

Sadiya Umar Farouq served as Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development from 2019 to 2023. She is currently facing significant corruption allegations involving the mismanagement of public funds during her tenure. In December 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 21-count charge against Farouq, former Permanent Secretary Bashir Nura Alkali, and Sani Nafiu Mohammed. The charges include criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and the diversion of $1.3 million and N746.6 million. The prosecution alleges that Farouq and Alkali converted $1.3 million—funds intended to be refunded to the ministry by Visual ICT Limited—for their personal benefit between May 2021 and September 2022. Farouq has failed to appear in court for arraignment despite being served. Consequently, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for her arrest on April 16, 2026, which the court has sustained in subsequent hearings. As of mid-2026, the EFCC has declared her wanted and she remains at large, with her legal team citing medical treatment in Egypt as the reason for her absence. Prior to these formal charges, Farouq was detained by the EFCC in January 2024 for questioning regarding the alleged mismanagement of N37.1 billion in social intervention funds. Additionally, in 2020, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) reported a separate diversion of N2.67 billion meant for school feeding programs during the COVID-19 lockdown. In July 2024, a Federal High Court ordered her to provide an accounting for N729 billion in payments made to 24.3 million Nigerians.