The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday released a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, after she was grilled for about 12 hours.
A source in the commission who spoke to SaharaReporters confirmed this on Tuesday, adding that the former minister had been mandated to visit the commission’s headquarters regularly to answer questions concerning the ongoing investigation into the N37 billion fraud linked to her.
“Sadiya was released yesterday (Monday) and she went home. But she was with us today and she would continue coming to our office pending the investigation into the case,” the source said.
The source said the former minister in the cabinet of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari was grilled for about 12 hours, following her arrival around 11 am, when she made the tweet.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that Sadiya Umar-Farouq had finally honoured the invitation from the anti-corruption body.
The former minister disclosed on Monday morning on her X handle that she had arrived at the headquarters of the anti-corruption body in Abuja.
“I have, at my behest, arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to honour the invitation by the anti-graft agency to offer clarifications in respect of some issues that the commission is investigating,” she said.
It was learned that the former minister was asked to write a statement explaining her relationship with a contractor, James Okwete, over disbursements totalling N37,170,855,753.44 paid into his bank accounts through agencies domiciled in the ministry.
SaharaReporters also gathered on Tuesday that the commission had also summoned the MDs of Zenith, Providus, and Jaiz banks over their alleged involvement in the fraud case.