Title: Nigeria’s former humanitarian affairs minister faces health challenges that prevent her from appearing before the EFCC anti-corruption commission
Introduction :
Nigeria’s former humanitarian affairs minister was recently invited by the anti-corruption commission EFCC. However, she was unable to attend in person due to health issues. In this article, we will explore the reasons for his absence, the actions taken by his lawyer and the EFCC’s stance on the situation.
The context :
According to the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs submitted a letter explaining that she could not honor the invitation due to health issues. His lawyer went to the commission to inform the EFCC of the reasons for his absence. Oyewale stressed that the EFCC has considered her request and expects her to report as soon as possible, without there being any reason to arrest her.
Uncertain figures:
Regarding the alleged amount of N37.1 billion embezzled by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Oyewale said he cannot confirm the precise figure due to the ongoing investigation. He added that investigations are continuing to trace all transactions, and that the final amount could be even higher than initially reported.
Release of the coordinator of the National Agency for the Social Investment Program:
On the sidelines of this affair, the EFCC spokesperson also announced that the national coordinator and general director of the National Social Investment Program Agency, Halima Shehu, has been released. She was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. However, she is required to appear regularly for questioning until the end of the investigation.
Conclusion :
Although Nigeria’s former humanitarian affairs minister was unable to appear before the EFCC anti-corruption commission due to health problems, she sent a letter of explanation and her lawyer informed the EFCC of her situation. The EFCC accepted her request, but insists she must report as soon as possible. At the same time, investigations are continuing to determine the exact amount embezzled by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Pending the continuation of the investigation, the coordinator of the National Agency for the Social Investment Program has been released, but will have to appear regularly to be questioned.