In a recent development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, has formally approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), requesting an extension for her scheduled meeting with EFCC interrogators. This request comes in light of health challenges she claims to be facing.
The ongoing investigation revolves around an alleged laundering of N37,170,855,753.44 during Umar-Farouq’s tenure through contractor James Okwete. The EFCC had exclusively informed The PUNCH about potential arrest plans after the former minister failed to appear before interrogators on Wednesday at the EFCC Headquarters.
In response to these developments, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, revealed in an exclusive telephone interview that Umar-Farouq sent a letter seeking more time due to health challenges. Oyewale stated, “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 the investigation is still ongoing.”
The former minister reportedly kept interrogators waiting for over eight hours on the scheduled day without providing an official communication to the commission explaining her absence.
Despite Umar-Farouq’s legal representative and the letter citing health challenges, the EFCC emphasizes the urgency of her appearance for interrogation. The anti-graft agency is actively investigating an alleged monumental fraud amounting to N37.1 billion in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs during Umar-Farouq’s leadership.
Sources within the EFCC suggest that if the former minister does not voluntarily appear for questioning, she may face arrest within the week. The agency had previously invited her to clarify matters related to money laundering during her tenure.
The PUNCH had previously reported the arrest of contractor James Okwete in connection with the probe, who is said to be cooperating with investigators. The investigation implicates Umar-Farouq and former directors-general of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
The ministry, overseeing various agencies, has been under scrutiny for alleged financial mismanagement. Umar-Farouq, appointed as the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs in July 2019, now faces mounting pressure as the investigation unfolds. The ICPC had previously uncovered N2.67 billion intended for the ministry’s school feeding program in private bank accounts in 2020. The revelations include payments made to federal colleges during the COVID-19 lockdown when children were not in school, as well as discoveries of buildings, business premises, and land holdings linked to the ministry.