Alleged Fraud: EFCC Declares Former Humanitarian Minister Farouq Wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared former minister of humanitarian affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted over alleged fraud.

The former minister was declared wanted over alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.

Farouq served as minister of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2023 where billions of Naira were allegedly mismanaged.

In a wanted notice on EFCC’s website on Saturday, the anti-graft agency stated that Farouq, 52, is an indigene of Zamfara State, and her last known address is EN 008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja.

The notice, signed by the head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, urged members of the public with information on her whereabouts to contact the commission.

Part of the the EFCC notice read that “The public is hereby notified that Sadiya Umar Farouq, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of Criminal Conspiracy, Abuse of Office, Diversion of Public Funds.”

The Commission directed anyone with useful information to contact its offices in Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, and Abuja, or call , email or contact the nearest police station.

An FCT High Court in Abuja had issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, after she failed to appear for her arraignment on April 16, 2026, over alleged fraud.

The EFCC declared her wanted on May 9, 2026, regarding a 21-count charge involving alleged misappropriation of over $1.3 million and ₦746.6 million.