The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, wanted over allegations of abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
In a notice published on Friday, the anti-graft agency called on members of the public with useful information about her whereabouts to contact any EFCC office nationwide.
Farouq, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2019 and 2023, is being investigated over an alleged N37 billion fraud linked to the ministry she supervised.
According to the EFCC, an FCT High Court in Apo had earlier issued an arrest warrant against the former minister and a former permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, after both failed to appear in court for arraignment.
The defendants, alongside Sani Mohammed, are facing a 21-count charge bordering on alleged breach of trust and abuse of office.
The EFCC also alleged that the accused persons misappropriated about $1.3 million and N746.6 million meant for government social intervention programmes.
The commission claimed part of the funds, which were expected to be returned to the ministry, was diverted for personal use.
