₦37.1bn Fraud: Buhari’s Minister Arrives EFCC Headquarters, Faces Interrogators

The former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, has arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

She is expected to meet with EFCC interrogators over an ongoing probe into the N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered during her tenure in office, through a contractor, James Okwete.

It was learnt that the former minister arrived at the EFCC office at about 10 am on Monday.

Meanwhile, at about 10:20 am, the former minister tweeted about her presence at the EFCC headquarters.

“I have, at my behest, arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to honour the invitation by the anti-graft agency to offer clarifications in respect of some issues that the commission is investigating,” Umar-Farouq tweeted on Monday morning.

Citing health challenges, the former Minister had earlier officially written to the EFCC, seeking an extension of the deadline to meet with EFCC interrogators over an ongoing probe into the N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered during her tenure in office through a contractor, Okwete.

Umar-Farouq faced arrest by operatives of the EFCC after failing to appear before interrogators at the EFCC Headquarters on Wednesday.

The former minister was asked to appear before investigators at the EFCC Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at about 10:00 a.m. to give an account of the alleged monumental fraud that took place under her watch, a document exclusively seen by our correspondent on Saturday revealed.

Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said Umar had sent a legal representative to the commission and had written to the commission seeking to be given more time to honour the invitation while citing health challenges.

Oyewale said, “The former Humanitarian Minister didn’t appear before the commission yesterday, but she sent in a letter pleading for more time and also explaining that she has some health challenges and that was why she couldn’t honour the invitation. She also sent in her lawyer to meet with interrogators.

“However, the commission has mandated her to submit herself to the commission without further delay. We are still tracing all the transactions, hence we cannot put a figure to everything now as investigation is still ongoing.”

Umar-Farouq kept interrogators waiting for over eight hours on Wednesday without an official communication to the commission as to why she didn’t honour the invitation.

Meanwhile, an impeccable senior anti-graft source revealed that Umar-Farouq might be arrested by operatives of the EFCC within the week if she fails to voluntarily appear before investigators at the EFCC’s headquarters as officially requested by the commission.

“Hajia Sadiya didn’t show up at our office today for interrogation. In fact she kept interrogatories waiting for hours. Meanwhile, our operatives may arrest her this week and bring her in for questioning if she fails to show up tomorrow,” the source revealed.

The EFCC invited the former minister to come to answer questions concerning an ongoing investigation into an alleged ₦37.1bn fraud uncovered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

The document partly read, “The commission is investigating a case of money laundering involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development during your time as Minister.

“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly report for an interview with the undersigned. Scheduled as follows: Wednesday 3rd, January, 2024. 10:00 am. This request is made pursuant to section 38 (I) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 & section 21 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.”