The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. Initially slated to meet with EFCC detectives last Wednesday at 10:00 am to address allegations of fraud, the former minister was absent, citing health issues. On Monday, January 8, Sadiya appeared at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja at 10:00 am and underwent a six-hour interrogation by detectives.
She faced questioning regarding an alleged laundering of N37,170,855,753.44 that occurred under her oversight, involving a contractor named James Okwete. According to sources within the EFCC, Sadiya spent the night at the anti-graft agency to facilitate the acquisition of detailed and crucial information for the ongoing investigation. It was also disclosed that she shared information about documents already in the possession of the EFCC, including those she brought as directed.
An unnamed source revealed, “She is cooperating with the commission on the ongoing investigation. She’s providing us necessary information. What I can tell you is that we are obtaining relevant information about the ministry.”
