N37b: EFCC quizzes ex-Minister Sadiya

For hours yesterday, crack detectives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) grilled a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq over alleged laundering of N37, 170,855,753.44.

The immediate past minister, was is facing allegation of laundering the money through a contractor, James Okwete.

But in line with the new policy of the commission, Sadiya was asked to go home on bail for another round of interrogation today.

According to a top source, the ex-Minister appeared for interrogation at about 10.30pm

She had asked for a three-week grace before answering EFCC’s invitation, but the agency granted her only three days grace.

In order to avoid being declared wanted, the ex-Minister reported at the EFCC’s headquarters.

“She has complied with our 72-hour ultimatum, her investigation by our team has started,” the top source confirmed.

In what appeared a confidence-building tweet, the ex-Minister said: ”I have, at my behest, arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to honour the invitation by the anti-graft agency to offer clarifications in respect of some issues that the commission is investigating,”

Another source, who was in the know of the interaction, said: “We have been grilling her for many hours on all the issues we have isolated for her.“In line with our new policy, we will allow her to go home. She will however come on Tuesday for another round of interrogation.”