TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked Sadiya Umar Farouq, former minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, and social development, to turn herself in without further delay.

Umar Farouq was minister from 2019 to 2023 in the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

BACKGROUND

In December, the EFCC arrested James Okwete, a contractor, for allegedly laundering N37 billion.

The arrest was believed to be connected with an ongoing probe of the humanitarian affairs ministry.

While reacting to reports linking her to the contractor, the ex-humanitarian affairs minister said Okwete is “completely unknown to her”.

There were reports that the ex-minister shunned the invitation of the anti-graft agency.

The anti-graft agency had reportedly threatened to arrest Umar Farouq over the alleged fraud.

‘SHE HAD HEALTH CHALLENGES’

On Thursday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said Umar Farouq informed the anti-graft agency that she had some health challenges and was unable to honour EFCC’s invitation.

“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,” NAN quoted Oyewale as saying.

“She did not shun EFCC’s invitation. She actually gave reasons why she could not meet up.

“Her lawyer was also at the commission to brief the anti-graft agency of 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.

“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,” he said.

“We can’t publish a figure now until we finish the tracking and it may be more than what is being brandished now.”

Oyewale also said Halima Shehu, the national coordinator and chief executive officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), has been released.

Shehu was arrested on Tuesday and has been directed to periodically report at the EFCC office for interrogation, he said.

She was arrested in connection with the ongoing probe of the humanitarian affairs ministry.

“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,” Oyewale said.