The lawyer representing Sadiya Umar Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Oladipo Okpeseyi, has refuted claims that his client declined to attend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invitation. The EFCC’s inquiry into an alleged N37 billion fraud involves Farouq, who was summoned by the anti-graft agency for elucidation.
In response to the probe, Okpeseyi explained that the minister’s nonattendance was attributable to health challenges. During an interaction with the media, Okpeseyi disclosed, “I was at the commission’s headquarters on Tuesday to submit a letter, requesting an extension of time to enable Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq to provide clarification regarding the activities of certain agencies under the ministry she oversaw in the previous administration.”
He further stated, “Although the EFCC has not formally responded, the leadership expressed understanding, leading to a mutual agreement to postpone the interview initially slated for Wednesday (January 3, 2024) to a later date, to be determined by the commission after assessing its schedule.”
