Sadiya Umar Farouq, the former minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, and social development, has been requested to turn herself in immediately by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Umar Farouq served as a minister from 2019 until 2023.
James Okwete, a contractor, was detained by the EFCC in December on suspicion of money laundering (N37 billion), and it was thought that the arrest had something to do with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs’ current investigation. After hearing rumours that connected her to the contractor, Umar Farouq declared that Okwete was “totally unknown to her.”
Furthermore, rumours circulated that the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs declined the anti-graft agency’s invitation. And because of the suspected scam, the EFCC allegedly threatened to have her arrested.
According to EFCC spokeswoman Dele Oyewale, Umar Farouq told the anti-graft organization on Thursday that she was unable to consider the invitation due to health issues.
NAN quoted Oyewale as saying, “It is true that she did not show up, but she sent a letter pleading for more time, explaining that she had some health challenges.
“She did not shun EFCC’s invitation. She gave reasons why she could not meet up. Her lawyer was also at the commission to brief the anti-graft agency on why she could not come or honour the invitation.
“The position of the commission is that she should turn herself in without further delay.”
The EFCC spokesperson further said the N37.1 billion figure being bandied around may not be the correct amount allegedly misappropriated by the ministry.
Oyewale said, “On the figure that is being branded, I cannot categorically confirm the figure because it is an ongoing thing. We are still tracing all the transactions here and there, it may be more than that.
“We can’t publish a figure now until we finish the tracking and it may be more than what is being brandished now.”
Oyewale added that the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, has been released. Shehu was arrested on Tuesday and has been directed to periodically report at the EFCC office for interrogation, he said.
The ex-NSIPA boss was arrested in connection with the ongoing probe of the humanitarian affairs ministry.
Oyewale said, “She was the National Coordinator in charge of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the Ministry during Buhari’s tenure, and she has been queried over some of the money that left the ministry’s coffers through her.”
Source: Gatekeeper News
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