Former minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, and socal development Sadiya Farouq has debunked links to a man named James Okwete who is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud.
It was reported on Sunday that a probe by the EFCC revealed that N37 billion was allegedly transferred from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five commercial banks belonging to or connected with Mr Okwete, a contractor.
Fifty-three companies were allegedly traced to Okwete, who was also said to have used 47 of the companies to lift Federal Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86. He is also linked with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks in which 134 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.
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Okwete has since been taken into custody of the EFCC.
In a statement released via X on Christmas Day, Farouq said linking her to fraud is a malicious attack on her person.
She said she did not know Okwete and that she was proud to have served the country.
“There have been a number of reports linking me to a purported investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the activities of one James Okwete, someone completely unknown to me. James Okwete neither worked for, nor represented me in any way whatsoever. The linkages and associations to my person are spurious,” Farouq wrote.
“While I resist the urge to engage in any media trial whatsoever, I have however contacted my Legal Team to explore possible options to seek redress on the malicious attack on my person.
“I remain proud to have served my country as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with every sense of responsibility and would defend my actions, stewardship and programmes during my tenure whenever I am called upon to do so.”
