Sadiya Umar Farouq to return to EFCC office over N37bn probe

Sadiya Umar Farouq, former minister of humanitarian affairs, is expected to return to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday.

The anti-graft agency is investigating the ministry she oversaw over an alleged N37 billion fraud. 

Umar Farouq was minister from 2019 to 2023 in the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

On January 4, the EFCC asked the ex-minister to turn herself in without further delay, following reports that she had shunned the agency’s invitation.

In response, she said some health challenges prevented her from honouring the invitation.

On Monday, Umar Farouq honoured the invitation of the EFCC.

She had arrived at the Jabi headquarters of the EFCC  at about 10.18 am on Monday.

The former minister had a long session with the EFCC interrogators. The session ended around 10.30 pm, after which she was allowed to return home.

Before her visit to the EFCC, Umar Farouq said she remains proud to have served the nation as minister, adding that she is ready to defend the programmes she executed during her spell in office.

“I have, at my behest, arrived at the headquarters of the EFCC to honour the invitation by the anti-graft agency to offer clarifications in respect of some issues that the commission is investigating,” she had said.

“I remain proud to have served my country as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with every sense of responsibility and will defend my actions, stewardship and programmes during my tenure whenever I am called upon to do so.”