A FORMER Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, on Wednesday, failed to appear at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Jabi, Abuja, to answer questions over an alleged N37.1 billion fraud.
A top EFCC source told this newspaper that the ex-minister shunned the invite by the anti-graft commission. The source said Umar-Farouk did not appear in person and wasn’t represented by her counsel.
Umar-Farouk served as minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari from August 2019 to May 2023.
Last week, the former minister was invited by the anti-graft agency following a probe that was launched into her activities in the ministry when she held sway.
She was being investigated over the sum of N37.1 billion that was allegedly laundered under her watch through a contractor, James Okwete.
Responding, the former minister, has denied knowing a contractor, James Okwete, who was arrested by the EFCC for alleged fraud.
News Point Nigeria reports that she also said she served as a minister with every sense of responsibility and would defend her actions whenever called upon to do so.
Umar-Farouk made the rebuttal in the early hours of Tuesday, December 26, in a message posted on her official X handle (formerly Twitter) and Instagram page.
“There have been a number of reports linking me to a purported investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into the activities of one James Okwete, someone completely unknown to me.
“James Okwete neither worked for, nor represented me in any way whatsoever. The linkages and associations to my person are spurious. While I resist the urge to engage in any media trial whatsoever, I have however contacted my legal team to explore possible options to seek redress on the malicious attack on my person”, she added.
A week after, the former minister was asked to appear before interrogators at the EFCC headquarters located at Jabi, Abuja, by 10:00 am.
However, she did not appear at the EFCC headquarters.
