The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, grilled a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, for about 12 hours between 11 am and 11.30 pm.
Umar-Farouk, who was grilled in the presence of her lawyer, Oladipo Okpeseyi (SAN), at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, was asked to write a statement explaining her relationship with a contractor, James Okwete, over the disbursements of the sum of ₦37.18billion paid into his bank accounts through agencies domiciled in the ministry.
It was further gathered that during the interrogation at the Operations Room.
In EFCC Headquarters at Jabi, Abuja, the ex-minister was shown documents revealing how the monies were moved into several bank accounts belonging to or connected with Okwete.
A credible EFCC source said, “Sadiya was grilled by interrogators since 11 am, and she was released on bail around 11.30 pm tonight (Monday), we aren’t detaining her just as we didn’t detain Halima Shehu, because the investigation is still ongoing.
“However, Sadiya has been mandated to report to the commission every day from tomorrow (Tuesday). She was asked to write a statement explaining her relationship with the contractor, Okwete, and how those monies got into his account.
The source also said, “She was given access to documents showing how the monies were moved from the ministry’s coffers and deposited into the bank accounts of Mr Okwete.”
Meanwhile, Okwete’s lawyer, Chukwuemeka Eze, has confirmed that his client had been released by the EFCC.
Eze added that Okwete was released on administrative bail last Thursday and had been asked to report on daily basis at the commission.
He said, My client, Okwete has been released by the EFCC on bail. He was released last week Thursday, and has been asked to report to the commission daily.”
, on Monday, grilled a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and){kind=link}