In a recent twist to an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, failed to honor the EFCC’s invitation regarding the alleged N37.1bn fraud during her tenure.
The invitation, scheduled for Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, went unanswered as Sadiya Umar Farouq kept interrogators waiting for over eight hours without official communication.
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Despite confirmation from an anonymous source within the EFCC that the interrogation team closed at 6 pm due to her absence, the former minister’s reasons for not attending remain undisclosed.
Journalists gathered at the EFCC headquarters in anticipation of Umar-Farouq’s arrival, highlighting the public interest surrounding the case. The investigation focuses on money laundering within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development during her tenure.
The alleged fraud involves a contractor, James Okwete, who is currently in EFCC custody. Umar-Farouq, however, denies any association with Okwete, stating in a tweet on Monday, “James Okwete neither worked for nor represented me in any way whatsoever.” She expressed her commitment to defending her actions and stewardship during her ministerial tenure.
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, declined to comment on the matter. Simultaneously, other former ministers under former President Muhammadu Buhari are under investigation for alleged graft amounting to N150bn.
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Sadiya Umar-Farouq, appointed by Buhari in July 2019 as the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, faces mounting scrutiny as the EFCC continues its probe into the financial irregularities within the ministry.
