Former Minister Umar-Farouk declines invitation from EFCC due to suspected N37 billion fraud
Sadiya Umar-Farouk, a former minister of social development, disaster management, and humanitarian affairs, did not show up yesterday to respond to inquiries regarding an alleged N37.1 billion fraud at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
The former minister declined the anti-graft commission’s invitation, a senior EFCC source informed our correspondent, according to Channels TV.
According to the source, Umar-Farouk did not show up in person and was not accompanied by legal counsel.
From August 2019 to May 2023, Umar-Farouk held a ministerial position under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The anti-graft agency invited the former minister last week as a result of an investigation into her actions in the ministry during her tenure.
She was being investigated over the sum of N37.1 billion that was allegedly laundered under her watch through a contractor, James Okwete. A week after, the former minister was asked to appear before interrogators at the EFCC headquarters located at Jabi, Abuja, by 10:00 am. However, she did not appear at the EFCC headquarters.
