EFCC clarifies that ex-minister Farouq did not refuse invitation

As some media outlets have said, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the former minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, and social development, did not decline the invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, EFCC Spokesperson Dele Oyewale stated as much.

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According to Oyewale, the former minister wrote to say that she was unable to accept the invitation because of health issues.

Although she did not appear, it is true that she submitted a letter requesting additional time and outlining certain health issues.

She provided explanations for her inability to attend rather than rejecting the EFCC invitation.

“Her attorney was present at the commission to inform the anti-graft agency of the reasons behind her inability to attend or accept the invitation,” the EFCC spokesperson continued.

According to Oyewale, the commission has given careful thought to her request and anticipates that she would accept the invitation right away.

He stated she may not have needed to be arrested because she had taken the appropriate action through legal counsel.

It is the commission’s opinion that she should turn herself in right away.

Additionally, he clarified that the N37.1 billion being labelled could not be an accurate amount for the funds that the ministry embezzled.

Since this is a continuous process and we are currently tracking down every transaction, I am unable to definitively confirm the number being branded; it might even be higher.

“We won’t be able to release an exact number until we complete the tracking, and it might be higher than what is currently being claimed,” he stated.

The National Social Investment Programme Agency’s (NSIPA) Chief Executive Officer and National Coordinator, Halima Shehu, has been released, the official added.

After being detained on Tuesday, Shehu was freed and told to report to the EFCC headquarters to be questioned till the investigation is complete.

She was taken into custody in relation to the ministry of humanitarian affairs’ ongoing investigation.

“She has been questioned about some of the money that left the ministry’s coffers through her, and she was the National Coordinator overseeing the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the Ministry during Buhari’s tenure.”