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Alleged $1.3m, N746.6m Humanitarian Ministry Fraud: Court Issues Arrest Warrant Against Sadiya, Perm Sec

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EFCC

Alleged $1.3m, N746.6m Humanitarian Ministry Fraud: Court Issues Arrest Warrant Against Sadiya, Perm Sec

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Abuja on Thursday, April 16, 2026 issued a warrant of arrest against a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Faruoq and a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali.

Farouq and Alkali are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday before the court but failed to appear. Only the third defendant, Sani Nafiu Mohammed was present in court.

The trio are to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a twenty-one count charge bordering on breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent award of contract and conversion of public funds of about $1,300,000( One Million, Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars, and N746,574,303( Seven Hundred and Forty Six Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Four Naira, Three Hundred and Three Naira)

Count one of the charge reads: “That you Sadiya Umar Farouq, While being Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and Bashir Nura Alkali while being the permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, between 8 May 2021 and 22 September 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacity entrusted with certain property to wit, an aggregate sum of $1,300,000.00(One Million, Three Hundred Thousand Dollars), committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you fraudulently converted the said sum to your personal benefit and which sum was meant to be refunded to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development by Visual ICT Limited, being excess funds paid by the Ministry under National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) for the validation of Rapid Response Register beneficiaries and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code and Punishable under the same Section.”

Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that the charge had been filed since December 15, 2025, but the first and second defendants could not be served.

“We could not arraign them on 15 December, because we could not produce them but their lawyers in court promised that they would produce the defendants but we didn’t see them until your lordship made an order for the state service. The defendants have now been served, my lord, only the third defendant has reported to the Commission when his surety was contacted. The third defendant’s surety is also in court”, he said.

Rotimi further informed the court the first defendant wrote to the Commission that she was going for a medical check-up in Saudi Arabia in 2024 and her passport was released to her for the medical check-up.

“My lord, since that passport was released to her, she has not returned the passport to the Commission . We do not have the medical report in Saudi Arabia till date. Only this morning, my friend served me with an affidavit of fact, the learned senior counsel for the first defendant, wherein the deponent claimed that the first defendant took ill, my lord, all the medical reports which my friend attached to the affidavit of facts were issued after the charge had been filed. No medical report was issued or shown to us for the approved journey and the release of her passport”, he said

Counsel to the first defendant, Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, informed the court that the reason for her absence was ill health. He also prayed the court to accept an affidavit of fact he sought to tender, but the court rejected the application.

Also, Jacobs informed the court that the EFCC wanted to amend an ex-parte motion filed on February 16, 2026, which sought to limit the application to only the first and second defendants. He further prayed the court to order a warrant of arrest against the first and second defendants.

EFCC

EFCC

“We are praying your lordship to order or issue a warrant of arrest or bench warrant against the first and second defendants. It is also supported by an affidavit by one Celeb Peter on April 15, 2026 showing that the first and second defendants were granted bail but failed to report back and that the charge had been filed and served on them but they have failed to appear before the court today. It is imperative therefore for this honourable court to permit the Commission to arrest the first and second defendants so that they can be compelled to appear before the court”, he said.

The defence counsel, on the other hand, prayed the court to allow him produce the first defendant in court in a period of six weeks

Delivering a ruling on the applications, Justice Onwuegbuzie issued a warrant of arrest against the first and second defendants and adjourned the matter till May 18, 2026 for arraignment and trial.

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Nigerian Navy Arrests Vessel Engaged In Illegal Crude Oil Theft

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Nigerian Navy

Nigerian Navy Arrests Vessel Engaged In Illegal Crude Oil Theft

The Nigerian Navy has recorded another significant operational success under Operation DELTA SENTINEL with the successful interception and arrest of a vessel suspected of fuel oil and crude oil theft within Nigeria’s maritime domain. The operation, carried out in the early hours of Thursday, 23 July 2026, was based on credible intelligence from the Nigerian Navy’s surveillance systems and sustained monitoring by Nigerian Navy platforms under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
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Acting swiftly on intelligence, naval personnel intercepted the suspect vessel MT FILIA at UTUE Terminal, Akwa Ibom, while allegedly involved in the siphoning of stolen crude oil from an oil well terminal jacket.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the vessel was carrying an estimated 32.82 metric tonnes of Fuel Oil and 650 metric tonnes of crude oil without the requisite documentation or lawful authorisation. Consequently, the vessel, its crew of 12, and the recovered cargo were taken into custody for further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with extant laws.

Speaking on the operation, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, commended the professionalism, vigilance and commitment of the personnel involved in the successful operation.

He reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in its determination to eliminate crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other forms of maritime criminality that undermine Nigeria’s economic prosperity and national security. He further noted that Operation DELTA SENTINEL, launched to combat crude oil theft and associated economic sabotage, continues to deliver measurable operational successes through persistent surveillance, intelligence-driven operations and close collaboration with other security agencies and critical stakeholders across the maritime sector.

You will recall that the Nigerian Navy, between April and June 2026, recovered over 4.7 million litres of petroleum product, deactivated over 58 illegal refining sites, destroyed over 239 dugout pits and 13 refining ovens, and arrested over 91 suspects connected to crude oil theft under Operation DELTA SENTINEL. This feat coincided with the upsurge in national crude oil production to 1.89 million barrels per day in July 2026, surpassing Nigeria’s OPEC production quota.

Nigerian Navy

Nigerian Navy

The Nigerian Navy remains committed to supporting national efforts to increase crude oil production, protect critical oil and gas infrastructure, and maintain a secure maritime environment conducive to economic growth.

Members of the public are encouraged to provide credible information that can assist the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies in combating crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.
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NAF Strengthens National Capacity To Counter Weapons Of Mass Destruction Through Strategic Partnership With DTRA And ONSA

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Plateau Police

NAF Strengthens National Capacity To Counter Weapons Of Mass Destruction Through Strategic Partnership With DTRA And ONSA

The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to prevent, detect, respond to, and investigate Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) and explosive threats through the successful hosting of the Final Phase of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (C-WMD) Curriculum Development Workshop for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Command.
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The workshop, hosted by the Commissioner of Police, EOD-CBRN Command, **CP Hauwa Ibrahim**, was conducted in collaboration with the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The DTRA delegation was led by Major Brittany Brown, while the ONSA delegation was led by Mrs. Pamela West. The programme marked the culmination of a series of Train-the-Trainers workshops aimed at institutionalizing the National Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Curriculum across participating security agencies and strengthening Nigeria’s preparedness against emerging CBRN and explosive threats.

Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, **IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM**, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Operations, **DIG Umar Shehu Nadada, psc, mni**, described the initiative as a strategic investment in the operational readiness of the Nigeria Police Force. He noted that the dynamic nature of Weapons of Mass Destruction threats requires law enforcement agencies to remain proactive, well-trained, and operationally prepared, while emphasizing the importance of sustained inter-agency collaboration and international partnerships in safeguarding national security.

DIG Nadada conveyed the appreciation of the Inspector-General of Police to the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Office of the National Security Adviser, facilitators, and all partner agencies for their steadfast commitment to strengthening the operational capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force. He noted that the continued support, technical expertise, and knowledge transfer provided by the partners have significantly enhanced the Force’s capacity to protect lives, secure critical national infrastructure, and effectively respond to evolving security threats.

The Deputy Inspector-General further charged participants to approach the workshop with professionalism, dedication, and a commitment to excellence, stressing that the knowledge and skills acquired should be effectively cascaded within the Force to ensure that the National C-WMD Curriculum becomes an enduring component of the training framework for EOD-CBRN personnel and contributes to improved operational effectiveness across the Nigeria Police Force.

In a vote of thanks delivered on behalf of the EOD-CBRN Command, appreciation was extended to the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Office of the National Security Adviser for their invaluable partnership in the development and implementation of the National Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Curriculum. The Command reaffirmed its commitment to integrating the curriculum into the Nigeria Police Force training system to ensure that officers acquire the requisite competencies to effectively address emerging CBRN and Weapons of Mass Destruction threats.

Plateau Police

Police

The Command also expressed optimism for the continued support of its strategic partners, particularly in the areas of specialized equipment, technical assistance, and advanced capacity building, to further strengthen the operational capabilities of the EOD-CBRN Command in addressing contemporary security challenges.

The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to deepening strategic partnerships with local and international stakeholders, advancing professional training, and strengthening institutional capacity to effectively combat emerging security threats while contributing to national and global security in line with international best practices.
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NPF Commissions New Armourer Office, Provost Office And Sick Bay At SPU Base 7, Abuja

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NPF

NPF Commissions New Armourer Office, Provost Office And Sick Bay At SPU Base 7, Abuja

In line with the vision and strategic leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, towards enhancing operational efficiency and personnel welfare across the Nigeria Police Force, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Force Headquarters, Abuja, AIG Olufemi Haruna, psc (+), representing the IGP, has officially commissioned three major projects at SPU Base 7, Abuja.
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The newly commissioned facilities include a modern Armourer Office, a Provost Office, and a fully equipped Sick Bay and Pharmacy. All three projects were conceived and executed under the leadership of the Commanding Officer, SPU Base 7, CSP Hassan Adamu.

Speaking during the ceremony, AIG Olufemi Haruna commended the initiative as a direct alignment with the Inspector-General of Police’s commitment to officer welfare and infrastructural development. Expressing his deep satisfaction with the quality and impact of the project, the AIG applauded the commanding officer for his foresight, dedication, and resourceful leadership, urging other commanders to follow suit.

NPF

NPF

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to prioritizing the health, safety, and operational readiness of its personnel through continuous infrastructural upgrades and welfare-driven initiatives across all commands and formations.

CSP ANI INIEDU, anipr,
Force Public Relations Officer,
Force Headquarters, Abuja.
24th July, 2026.
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