The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has detained the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, according to reports from the anti-graft body.
Sources close to the EFCC says Umar-Farouk was still being questioned by Interrogators at the Anti-graft Agency’s office and was not allowed to go home after her visit on Monday morning.
Sadiya is being questioned over allegations of corruption in the handling of an over N37bn social intervention funds linked to the accounts of a contractor, James Okwete during her tenure as Minister.
Revelations by Okwete who had long been arrested by Operatives of the EFCC reportedly indicted Umar-Farouk and Directors-General who served under her.
The EFCC had earlier grilled the suspended National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme, Halima Shehu whose office is being supervised by the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry.
The EFCC detained Shehu after the announcement of her suspension by President Tinubu and subsequent raid of the National Social Investment Programme Agency’s office in Abuja.
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Shehu had been released but asked to report to the EFCC’s office everyday for the ongoing probe.
The just suspended Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu is expected at the EFCC’s office this Tuesday over alleged payment of N585 million grant meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun and Lagos States into private accounts.
President Tinubu had suspended Betta Edu from office and directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to conduct thorough investigation into all financial transactions involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs as well as the Agencies under the Ministry.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
