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Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, has reported to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for interrogation regarding an ongoing probe into the alleged laundering of ₦37,170,855,753.44 during her tenure. The funds are said to have been funneled through a contractor, James Okwete.
Umar-Farouq’s arrival at the EFCC headquarters was confirmed around 10 am on Monday. Earlier, she had formally written to the EFCC, citing health challenges and seeking an extension of the deadline for her appearance.
“I have, at my behest, arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to honour the invitation by the anti-graft agency to offer clarifications in respect of some issues that the commission is investigating,” Umar-Farouq tweeted on Monday morning.
The former minister faced the possibility of arrest after failing to appear on the initially scheduled date. The EFCC, in response to her plea for more time, mandated her to submit herself without further delay.
Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the EFCC, confirmed that Umar-Farouq’s legal representative had met with interrogators, but emphasized that the commission expects her presence for further questioning. Ongoing investigations into the alleged fraud involve tracing transactions related to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
The EFCC had earlier arrested James Okwete, the contractor implicated in the case. Sources indicate that Okwete has provided crucial information linking Umar-Farouq and former directors-general of the ministry to the financial misappropriation.
It has been revealed that the laundered funds, totaling ₦37.1bn, were transferred to 38 bank accounts held in five legacy commercial banks linked to Okwete. Transactions included transfers to Bureau De Change Operators, cash withdrawals, purchase of luxury cars, and acquisition of properties in Abuja and Enugu State.
The investigation also disclosed that Okwete had 53 companies connected to him, with 47 of these firms securing Federal Government contracts amounting to ₦27,423,824,339.86. The contractor is associated with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks.
Umar-Farouq, appointed as the youngest cabinet member by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019, is not the sole focus of the investigation. Three other former ministers are reportedly under probe for graft estimated at ₦150bn.
The EFCC has affirmed its commitment to unraveling the details of the financial misappropriation, stating, “We are still tracing all the transactions, hence we cannot put a figure to everything now as investigation is still ongoing.”
