OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)– Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the former minister of social development, disaster management, and humanitarian affairs under former president Mohammed Buhari has turned down an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday to look into allegations of N37.1 billion being laundered through contractor James Okwete while she was in government, according to Punch.
Interrogators were kept waiting for more than eight hours by Umar-Farouq without receiving an official explanation for her refusal to accept the invitation.
READ ALSO: Former Minister Faces EFCC Today in Connection To N37.1bn Fraud, NSIPA Coordinator Arrested
On Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at around 10:00 am, the former minister was called to come before investigators at the EFCC offices in Jabi, Abuja, to provide an account of the alleged fraud that occurred under her supervision.
However, our correspondent who was at the EFCC headquarters from 9 am to 6.30 pm confirmed that the former minister did not show up at the anti-graft agency’s office for interrogation.
An interrogator, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the interrogation team had to close from work at about 6pm when they were certain that the former minister was not going to show up.
We just closed from work now because she didn’t show up today, and it’s 6pm already. It’s certain that she’s never going to show up today,” the source said.
Reports state that reporters flocked to the office anticipating Umar-Farouq’s arrival.