EFCC declares former minister Sadiya Umar Farouq wanted over alleged fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted over alleged cases of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and diversion of public funds.

The anti-graft agency published the wanted notice on its official website on Saturday, urging members of the public with useful information about her whereabouts to contact the commission.

According to the notice signed by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the 52-year-old former minister, an indigene of Zamfara State, has her last known address as EN 008, Okpo River, off Agulu Street, Maitama, Abuja.

“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 statement read.

The commission directed anyone with relevant information to report to any EFCC office nationwide, including offices in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna, Benin, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Gombe, Uyo, Ilorin, Makurdi, and Ibadan.

The agency also provided a hotline and official email address for tips, while advising members of the public to contact the nearest police station or security agency if necessary.

Farouq served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development between 2019 and 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The EFCC has been investigating alleged financial irregularities linked to the ministry during her tenure, including accusations involving the diversion of billions of naira meant for social intervention programmes.