N37bn alleged fraud: EFCC drills former President Buhari’s minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk today

The former minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, is expected to appear before the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, operatives on Wednesday (today) for questioning over alleged N37.1 billion fraud.

The development comes as EFCC arrested the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, on Tuesday, over alleged N37.1 billion fraud perpetuated in collaboration with the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

CN reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the suspension of Halima Shehu on Tuesday.

Giving insights into the arrest, an official of the EFCC who spoke under anonymity, said Shehu Shehu was indicted concerning the alleged 37.1bn fraud as the former National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme under the Ministry, then supervised by Sadiya Umar-Farouq.

CityNews Nigeria had reported eight days ago that EFCC summoned a contractor, James Okwete, over alleged fraud during the minister’s tenure in office.