The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is gearing up to question the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, in connection with an alleged N37.1 billion fraud.

The probe centers around suspicions of money laundering activities that transpired under her watch through a contractor named James Okwete.

A top EFCC source confirmed this development during a telephone interview with Channels Television on Wednesday.

The former minister, who served under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari from August 2019 to May 29, 2023, had been invited by the anti-graft agency last week as part of an ongoing investigation into her activities during her tenure.

The focus of the investigation is on the sum of N37.1 billion that is believed to have been laundered through the aforementioned contractor.

A week after receiving the invitation, the former minister was expected to appear before interrogators at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, by 10:00 am. However, as of now, she has not appeared at the EFCC headquarters.

The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, disclosed that several other officials who worked with Umar-Farouk have also been invited to provide insights into the operations of the ministry during the last four years.

The EFCC is seeking to gain a comprehensive understanding of how the affairs of the ministry were conducted during the former minister’s tenure.