One of the most powerful ministers in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari that headed the Specially created Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, on Wednesday, snubbed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by refusing to honour an invitation extended to her by the anti-graft agency.
The powerful former Minister was invited by the EFCC to appear before its team of interrogators on Wednesday, December 3, 2024 to clear the air over some hanging questions in an ongoing probe of ₦37.1 billion allegedly laundered during her tenure through a contractor by name, James Okwete.
Sadiya Umar-Farouq, had told the media that she does not know anybody with the name James Okwete as a contractor neither did she had any dealing whatsoever with him.
The former minister, according to sources close to the EFCC, refused to honour the invitation extended to her but, chose to keep the EFCC operatives assigned to investigate her waiting for over eight hours.
Apart from refusing to appear before the EFCC, Sadiya Umar-Farouq did not deem it fit to communicate with the anti-graft agency on her reason(s) for either failing or refusing to honour their invitation.
This was as it further gathered that the team of interrogators who sat all day waiting for her had to resolve to call it a day at about 6:00pm on the presumption that the once powerful minister would not show up.
Forefront News gathered that the EFCC might be left with no option than to use warrant to get her arrested and be made to explain her role in the alleged N37.1 billion fraud.
