The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has refuted claims that the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, shunned its invitation.
The EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, clarified the situation, stating that Umar-Farouq communicated her inability to attend the invitation due to health challenges.
In a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja, Oyewale revealed, “It is true that she didn’t show up, but she sent a letter pleading for more time explaining that she had some health challenges. She didn’t shun the EFCC invitation; she actually gave reasons why she couldn’t meet up. Her lawyer was also at the commission to brief the anti-graft agency of why she couldn’t come or honour the invitation.”
Emphasizing that the commission had taken her health plea into consideration, Oyewale anticipated Umar-Farouq would honor the invitation without delay.
He stated, “The position of the commission is that she should turn herself in without further delay.” He added that there might not be grounds for her arrest as she had duly communicated through her lawyer.
Responding to the reported misappropriation figure of N37.1 billion, Oyewale clarified that it was an ongoing investigation, and the actual amount might surpass the currently circulated figure.
He stated, “On the figure that is being branded, I cannot categorically confirm the figure because it is an ongoing thing. We are still tracing all the transactions here and there; it may be more than that. We can’t publish a figure now until we finish the tracking, and it may be more than what is being brandished now.”
In addition, Oyewale disclosed that the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, who was arrested earlier, has been released.
Shehu is directed to report to the EFCC office for further interrogation in connection with the ongoing probe of the humanitarian affairs ministry.
Oyewale explained, “She was the National Coordinator in charge of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the Ministry during Buhari’s tenure, and she has been queried over some of the money that left the ministry’s coffers through her.”
