Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, has formally requested an extension from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to meet with investigators regarding an ongoing probe into the alleged laundering of ₦37.1 billion during her tenure.
The request comes as she cites health challenges as the reason for her inability to attend the scheduled meeting at the EFCC Headquarters on Wednesday.
Despite facing the possibility of arrest after failing to appear for the interrogation, Umar-Farouq, through her legal representative, submitted a letter to the EFCC, explaining her health situation and pleading for additional time to comply with the invitation.
Responding to the situation, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale revealed in an exclusive telephone interview on Thursday that the former minister’s legal representative had been in contact with the commission.
Oyewale said, “The former Humanitarian Minister didn’t appear before the commission yesterday, but she sent in a letter pleading for more time and also explaining that she has some health challenges and that was why she couldn’t honour the invitation. She also sent in her lawyer to meet with interrogators.
“However, the commission has mandated her to submit herself to the commission without further delay. We are still tracing all the transactions, hence we cannot put a figure to everything now as the investigation is still ongoing.”