₦37.1 billion fraud: Ex-minister, Sadiya begs EFCC for time, citing health challenges

Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq has pleaded for time for her to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for interrogation.

She wrote through her lawyers to the anti-graft agency on Wednesday after she was invited to appear over alleged embezzlement N37,170,855,753.44 in connivance with a contractor, Mr James Okwete who has already been arrested.

Wednesday was the deadline given to the embattled former Minister who served in the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration, but she kept interrogators waiting without showing up at the EFCC headquarters, Jabi, Airport Road, Abuja, until the close of work at about 6.00pm.

Spokesman for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale confirmed to journalists that the former Minister’s lawyers later submitted a letter claiming health challenges and asked for more time for her to honour invitation.

Oyewale said, “The former Humanitarian Minister didn’t appear before the commission yesterday, but she sent in a letter pleading for more time and also explaining that she has some health challenges and that was why she couldn’t honour the invitation. She also sent in her lawyer to meet with interrogators.”

The agency however rejected her request, urging her to appear without delay, confirming that financial transactions that led to the alleged fraud was being traced.

“However, the commission has mandated her to submit herself to the commission without further delay. We are still tracing all the transactions, hence we cannot put a figure to everything now as the investigation is still ongoing.”