By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, has denied knowing a contractor, James Okwete, who was arrested by the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering the sum of N37billion ($40.9m)
Sadiya Umar-Farouq served under immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari who was accused of not watching the activities of his appointees as they feasted on national treasury.
“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”, Umar-Farouq who was the pioneer head of the ministry stated.
Investigators revealed that Okwete transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, withdrew N540,000,000.00 in cash, purchased luxury cars with N288,348,600.00, and bought luxury houses in Abuja and Enugu State with N2,195,115,000.00.
Fifty-three companies were allegedly traced to Okwete, who was also said to have used 47 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 of which 134 are corporate accounts linked to different companies.
Following his arrest by the EFCC, the commission says Okwete has made useful statements concerning Umar-Farouk and former director-general of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.
The ex-minister however posits that she served the West African country battling burgeoning poverty with every sense of responsibility and would defend her actions whenever called upon to do so.
She stated that Okwete neither worked for, nor represented her in any way whatsoever that the linkages and associations to her person are spurious.
According to her, “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.”
