The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared Sadiya Umar Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, wanted. The declaration, announced via the agency’s official website on a Saturday, stems from alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, criminal conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust during her tenure.

Ms. Farouq, 52, is an indigene of Zamfara State. Her last known address is specified as EN008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja. The anti-graft agency has urged the public with any useful information regarding her whereabouts to contact EFCC offices nationwide, providing phone numbers and an email address for communication. She served as the youngest minister in the federal cabinet under late former President Muhammadu Buhari from July 2019 to 2023.

This declaration follows an arrest warrant issued against Umar Farouq on April 16, 2026, by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie also granted an order for the arrest of Bashir Nura Alkali, a Permanent Secretary in the same ministry. These orders were issued after both defendants failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment.

The former minister, along with Bashir Nura Alkali and one Sani Mohammed, is facing a 21-count charge filed by the EFCC. The charges border on alleged criminal breach of trust and abuse of office. The EFCC is actively investigating an alleged fraud amounting to about N37 billion linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs during her time as minister. Furthermore, the anti-graft agency alleges that the defendants misappropriated approximately $1.3 million and N746.6 million. These funds, originally meant for government programmes and social intervention initiatives, were purportedly diverted for personal use after payments were made.