Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who served as the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under President Muhammadu Buhari, has distanced herself from a contractor, James Okwete, who was nabbed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly siphoning N37bn from the government.
She also asserted that she performed her duties as a minister with utmost integrity and accountability and would stand by her record whenever challenged.
Umar-Farouq made the clarification on Monday in a message shared on X (formerly Twitter).
This came as the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria demanded the trial and conviction of all those implicated in the scandal. According to reports, the EFCC probe revealed that N37bn was diverted from the government’s treasury and deposited into 38 different bank accounts in five major commercial banks owned by or linked to Okwete.
Reacting to the development on Monday, Umar-Farouq said, “I have been inundated with reports linking me to a purported investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into the activities of one James Okwete, a total stranger to me.
“James Okwete had no business or professional relationship with me whatsoever. The connections and affiliations to my person are false. While I refuse to be dragged into any media trial, I have instructed my legal team to take appropriate actions to clear my name from this malicious attack on my reputation.
