ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted in connection with an alleged N37.1 billion money laundering and contract fraud scandal.
The anti-graft agency issued the public notice on Saturday, May 9, 2026, following the former minister’s repeated failure to honor multiple invitations for questioning and her persistent absence from scheduled court proceedings.
The N37 Billion Investigation
The investigation centers on the alleged massive diversion of billions of naira intended for the federal government’s social intervention programs during Farouq’s tenure from 2019 to 2023. According to EFCC sources, the funds were reportedly laundered through several contractors and proxies linked to the ministry.
A central figure in the probe, contractor James Okwete, was previously arrested by the commission. He is alleged to have facilitated the transfer of the diverted funds into various private accounts across the country.
Evading Justice
The decision to declare the former minister wanted follows months of legal maneuvering. In April 2026, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory issued a bench warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear to take her plea on a 21-count charge filed by the commission.
The EFCC’s public notice urged anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or EFCC office immediately.
“The public is hereby notified that Sadiya Umar Farouq is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an investigation involving the misappropriation of public funds and conspiracy,” the statement read.
Wider Crackdown on Social Intervention Funds
The move against Farouq is part of a broader crackdown on the management of humanitarian funds. Her successor, Betta Edu, was also suspended earlier in the year over related allegations concerning the transfer of public funds into private bank accounts.
As of Saturday evening, legal representatives for the former minister have not issued a formal statement regarding the “wanted” declaration. Sources close to her family had previously claimed she was out of the country for medical reasons, a claim the EFCC has dismissed as a tactic to stall the judicial process.
