The call was made in a letter addressed to the commission’s chairman dated 4th of January, 2024 obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday.
A group, Leadership and Accountability Initiative has asked the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to declare a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq wanted for allegedly shunning the agency’s invitation in relation to its ongoing investigation into N37billion fraud.
The call was made in a letter addressed to the commission’s chairman dated 4th of January, 2024 obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday.
The letter described the decision of Mrs Umar-Farouq not to honour the EFCC’s invitation to probe the allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds which occurred during her tenure as a minister as unfortunate.
The letter reads: “We write to commend the efforts of your commission to unravel the mystery and crime behind the N37B stolen public funds from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, under the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It is public knowledge that the Ministry was created solely to alleviate the sufferings of ordinary Nigerian citizens through several programmes and initiatives which include the school feeding programme and conditional cash transfer to the poorest of the poor. Unfortunately, news coming out about the mismanagement of public funds under the immediate past government are disappointing, heartbreaking, shattering and appalling.
“Your invitation to Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq to avail herself the opportunity to state her part of the alleged crime was well received by Nigerians both home and abroad. Unfortunately, she declined your invitation and ignored the Commission’s offer to state her part in this story.”
Meanwhile, it was reported on Thursday that the EFCC said Umar-Farouq, did not shun its invitation as reported by the media on Wednesday.
Dele Oyewale, the spokesman for the anti-corruption had said that the former minister sent a letter to the EFCC informing the agency that she would not be able to honour the invitation because she was indisposed due to health challenges.
Oyewale had said, “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.
“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.”
According to Oyewale, the commission expects her to honour the invitation without further delay.
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