Angry EFCC Says Nothing Will Scuttle Ongoing Investigation Over Alleged N37.1bn Fraud

By Akinwale Kasali

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said that nothing will scuttle its ongoing investigation into the N37.1 billion alleged fraud following the failure of Sadiya Umar-Farouq, former Minister, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development to honour its invite.

The former Minister has been fingered in an alleged diversion of N37.1 billion belonging to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.

The EFCC disclosed that the Coordinator, National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, who had earlier been detained for interrogation, and freed, will also be invited again, alongside many others with regards to the case.

It was gathered from sources within the EFCC that Shehu waa detained on Tuesday and had responded to inquiries over the transactions.

The source said, “Halima Shehu is currently in our custody in connection with the ongoing N37.1 billion fraud that took place under the former humanitarian minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

“Halima 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.

“The former Minister was expected at the office for questioning on Wednesday over the alleged N37.1bn money laundering case but did not show up,” he said.

According to him, the interrogation team left at about 6 p.m. when it was obvious that the former minister was not going to show up.

”She didn’t appear or send a representative to appear on her behalf. The former minister might be arrested if she fails to voluntarily appear before investigators.”