EFCC declares ex-Minister Sadiya Farouq wanted over alleged fraud
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted over alleged involvement in a case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted over alleged involvement in a case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
In a public notice issued on Saturday by the anti-graft agency, the EFCC said Farouq, 52, is being sought in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial crimes.
The commission disclosed that the former minister is an indigene of Zamfara State, with her last known address listed as EN 008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja.
The notice, signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, called on members of the public with useful information regarding her whereabouts to contact the commission through any of its offices across the country.
According to the anti-corruption agency, such information can be reported at its offices in Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja, or through security agencies and the nearest police station.
The EFCC also provided a contact telephone number and official email address for tips related to the former minister’s location.
Farouq served as minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and previously oversaw several federal social intervention programmes.
The allegations against her form part of ongoing investigations by the EFCC into the management of public funds under the ministry.
According to court reports, an FCT High Court in Abuja earlier issued an arrest warrant against Farouq and a ministry permanent secretary after they allegedly failed to appear for arraignment in April 2026.
The EFCC reportedly filed multiple charges involving alleged breach of trust, abuse of office and misappropriation of funds. Some reports claimed investigators traced suspicious transactions linked to social intervention programmes supervised by the ministry.
Back in January 2024, the former minister was invited by the EFCC for questioning over the alleged N37.1 billion fraud investigation.
She initially failed to appear before investigators, though later stated she eventually honoured the invitation and cooperated with the probe.
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