N37bn: Ex-Minister Umar-Farouq’s Interrogation Continues Today

For hours yesterday, detectives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) grilled a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq over alleged laundering of N37, 170,855,753.44

The immediate past minister, was facing allegation of laundering the money through a contractor, James Okwete.

But in line with the new policy of the commission, Sadiya was asked to go home on bail for another round of interrogation today.

According to a top source, the ex-Minister appeared for interrogation at about 10.30pm.

She had asked for a three-week grace before answering EFCC’s invitation, but the agency granted her only three days grace.

In order to avoid being declared wanted, the ex-Minister reported at the EFCC’s headquarters.

“She has complied with our 72-hour ultimatum, her investigation by our team has started,” the top source confirmed. 

In what appeared a confidence-building tweet, the ex-Minister said: ”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,”

Another source, who was in the know of the interaction, said: “We have been grilling her for many hours on all the issues we have isolated for her.

Sadiya was said to have made what a source described as “a useful statement.”

“In line with our new policy, we will allow her to go home. She will however come on Tuesday for another round of interrogation.”