Explanation for my failure to attend EFCC’s invitation- Ex- Minister

Health issues prevented Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the former minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, and social development, from accepting an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC is reportedly investigating whether the former minister laundered N37,170,855,753.44 through a contractor named James Okwete while in office. The minister is believed to have formally written to the EFCC to request an extension of the date for questioning.

Read Also: EFCC clarifies that ex-minister Farouq did not refuse invitation

Umar had written to the commission and dispatched a legal counsel, according to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, who confirmed to The Punch that Umar had sent a representative to request an extension of time to accept the invitation, citing health issues.

The former humanitarian minister did not come before the commission yesterday, according to Oyewale, but she did send a letter requesting more time and stating that her health prevented her from accepting the summons. She also brought her attorney to the interrogation.

Nevertheless, the commission has ordered her to report to the commission right away. Since we are still tracking down every transaction, we are unable to assign a number to anything at this time because the investigation is still ongoing.

According to reports, Umar-Farouq failed to respond to the invitation and kept interrogators waiting for more than eight hours on Wednesday without providing the panel with an official explanation.

On Wednesday at around 10:00 am, the former minister was ordered to appear before investigators at the EFCC Headquarters in Jabbi, Abuja, to provide an account of the alleged fraud that occurred under her supervision.

Nevertheless, the former minister failed to appear for questioning on Wednesday at the anti-graft agency’s office.