The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the amount allegedly stolen at the humanitarian affairs ministry may be more than the figure reported.
The anti-graft agency has alleged corruption in the ministry created by former President Muhammadu Buhari, and is asking former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq to explain the alleged misappropriation of billions of naira meant for humanitarian interventions.
News reports say the amount squandered at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affair, Disaster Management, and Social Development was N37.1 billion.
Umar-Farouq has yet to report to the EFCC after its invitation. The agency told the News Agency of Nigeria that the former minister did not ignore its invitation as reported, but had only requested more time to turn herself in.
“It is true that she didn’t show up, but she sent a letter pleading for more time explaining that she had some health challenges,” said EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale.
“She didn’t shun EFCC invitation, she actually gave reasons why she couldn’t meet up.
“Her lawyer was also at the commission to brief the anti-graft agency of why she couldn’t come or honour the invitation,” he said.
Oyewale said the commission considered her plea and expected that she would honour the invitation without further delay.
More Than Reported
The spokesperson said the N37.1 billion reported as the misappropriated amount might not be correct.
“On the figure that is being brandished, I cannot categorically confirm the figure because it is an ongoing thing. We are still tracing all the transactions here and there; it may be more than that,” he told NAN.
“We can’t publish a figure now until we finish the tracking, and it may be more than what is being brandished now,” he said.
Shehu Released
Oyewale also said that the national coordinator and chief executive officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, has been released.
Shehu who was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing probe of the humanitarian affairs ministry.
“She was the national coordinator in charge of the conditional cash transfer programme under the ministry during Buhari’s tenure, and she has been queried over some of the money that left the ministry’s coffers through her,” Oyewale said. (NAN)
She is to report at the EFCC office for interrogation until the end of investigation, he said.
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