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37.1bn fraud: Why I didn’t honour EFCC’s invitation – Ex-minister
37.1bn fraud: Why I didn’t honour EFCC’s invitation – Ex-minister
Citing health challenges, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq has officially written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seeking an extension of the deadline to meet with EFCC interrogators over an ongoing probe into the N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered during her tenure in office, through a contractor, James Okwete.
The PUNCH had earlier exclusively reported that Umar-Farouq faces arrest by operatives of the EFCC after failing to appear before interrogators at the EFCC Headquarters on Wednesday.
Reacting to the development in an exclusive telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale said Umar had sent a legal representative to the commission and has written to the commission seeking to be given more time to honour the invitation while citing health challenges.
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.
“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.”
The PUNCH had reported that Umar-Farouq kept interrogators waiting for over eight hours on Wednesday without an official communication to the commission as to why she didn’t honour the invitation.
The former minister was asked to appear before investigators at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabbi, Abuja on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at about 10:00 am, to give an account of the alleged monumental fraud that took place under her watch, a document exclusively seen by our correspondent on Saturday revealed.
However, our correspondent who was at the EFCC Headquarters from 9 am and left at about 6:30 pm on Wednesday confirmed that Umar-Farouq did not show up at the anti-graft agency’s office for interrogation.
Our correspondent who monitored development at the EFCC Headquarters on Wednesday observed the presence of journalists who arrived at the venue at different intervals in expectation of Umar Farouq’s arrival.
An interrogator who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity Wednesday evening revealed that the interrogation team had to retire from work at about 6 pm when they were certain that the former Minister was not going to show up on Wednesday.
“We just closed from work now because she didn’t show up today, and it’s 6 pm already, it’s certain that she’s never going to show up today,” she said.
Meanwhile, an impeccable senior anti-graft source revealed that Umar-Farouq might be arrested by operatives of the EFCC within the week if she fails to voluntarily appear before investigators at the EFCC’s Headquarters as officially requested by the commission.
“Hajia Sadiya didn’t show up at our (EFCC) office today for interrogation. In fact she kept interrogatories waiting for hours. Meanwhile, our operatives may arrest her this week and bring her in for questioning if she fails to show up tomorrow,” the source revealed.
The PUNCH had earlier exclusively reported that the EFCC invited the former Minister to come to answer questions concerning an ongoing investigation into an alleged ₦37.1bn fraud uncovered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
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The document partly read, “The commission is investigating a case of money laundering involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development during your time as Minister.
“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly report for an interview with the undersigned. Scheduled as follows: Wednesday 3rd, January 2024. 10:00 am. This request is made pursuant to section 38 (I) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 & section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.”
The ex-minister could not be reached for comments on Wednesday. Also, when contacted, Umar-Farouk’s former media aide, Nnaka Ikem did not respond to phone calls and text messages from our correspondent.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the EFCC arrested a contractor, James Okwete, in connection with the ongoing probe into the N37.1bn allegedly laundered by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development under the former Minister, Umar-Farouk.
A top EFCC official, who confided in our correspondent on Sunday, said the contractor had made useful statements concerning Umar-Farouk and former director-general of the ministry.
Impeccable sources had earlier confirmed to The PUNCH that Okwete, who is still being held at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, had been cooperating with investigators.
A source said, “The contractor, Mr Okwete, who was used in laundering the money had been arrested by the commission. He is currently detained in our custody and has been giving investigators more details that have indicted the former Minister, Sadiya and some DGs under the ministry, and they may be brought in anytime soon too.”
Alleged N37.1bn fraud
Another source noted, “The contractor involved in the N37.bn fraud has been arrested and will spend Christmas in our custody. He has given some names, and the former humanitarian affairs minister and directors-general in the ministry were linked to the fraud.”
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The PUNCH reports that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs currently serves as the parent ministry to eight agencies, including the National Social Investment Office, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internationally Displaced Persons, among others.
Umar-Farouq was the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
She was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019 as the youngest cabinet member.
Her work with Buhari dates back to his days as the leader and presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change when she was the national treasurer of the party and later the national treasurer of the All Progressives Congress.
Meanwhile, in 2020, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission said it uncovered N2.67bn meant for the ministry’s school feeding programme in private bank accounts.
The former ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed that the commission unravelled N2.67bn in personal accounts, being payment made to some federal colleges for school feeding during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Other discoveries by the ICPC include 18 buildings, 12 business premises and 25 plots of land.
Owasanoye said under the Open Treasury Portal review carried out between January and August 15, 2020, of the 268 Ministries, Departments and Agendas, 72 had cumulative infractions of N90m.
The former ICPC chairman argued that the money was paid when children were not in school.
37.1bn fraud: Why I didn’t honour EFCC’s invitation – Ex-minister
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Minimum wage: Labour leaders storm out of meeting over FG’s N48,000 offer
Minimum wage: Labour leaders storm out of meeting over FG’s N48,000 offer
The organised labour on Wednesday stormed out of the minimum wage committee meeting with the Federal Government over the government’s offer of N48,000 new wage.
Labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had made a demand of N615,000 as the new minimum wage and gave the government May 31 deadline to conclude negotiations on new living wage.
The Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage which included the private sector resumed negotiations on Wednesday.
A report by Vanguard quoted Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, who is one of the representatives of the NLC at the meeting, as saying , “We asked whether the N45,000 is for transport, food, clothing, housing or for what.
“So we just told them that since they are not serious, we better just leave, so we stormed out of the place,”
He said that the government offer was presented to them by the Permanent Secretary at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 430 pilgrims from Kebbi are scheduled for the first flight to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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BREAKING: Another Wike’s loyalist resigns from Fubara’s cabinet
BREAKING: Another Wike’s loyalist resigns from Fubara’s cabinet
Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Professor Prince Chinedu Mmom has resigned as a member of the State Executive Council.
In the resignation letter dated May 15, 2024, Professor Mmom referenced a “toxic” working environment as his reason for resignation, stating that such an environment would make it impossible to achieve “my set targets for the Education sector in the State.”
He, however, thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the opportunity to serve in his administration and wished him well.
The letter read: “It is a truism that a calm, safe and friendly environment would stimulate efficient service delivery and enhanced productivity.
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“It is however unfortunate to note that my current work space has become toxic and no longer guarantees a favourable environment to enable me realize my set targets for the Education sector in the State.
“There is loss of trust, animosity and sharp division among colleagues in the same cabinet which is unhealthy and very unfortunate.
“I want to thank Your Excellency for the opportunity to serve in your cabinet and wish your administration well.
“Kindly accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”
Professor Mmom was among the Commissioners that resigned from the Fubara cabinet last year during the heat of the political crisis in the state, before the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.
He returned to the Fubara administration as Commissioner for Education, but has publicly shown that his loyalty lies with the former Governor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.
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